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Serbia Opens Negotiation Chapters 23 and 24

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Negotiation Chapters 23 and 24 have been opened at the Third Intergovernmental Conference between the European Union and Serbia, which was held on 18 July 2016. Chapter 23 is related to judiciary and fundamental rights and Chapter 24 is dealing with justice, freedom and security. Opening of these significant chapters is a big step for Serbia toward the European Union.

Harmonising Serbian law with the EU legal system is of essential importance. According to the Chapter 23, Serbia will have to establish an independent and efficient judiciary system and to eliminate external influences over it. Also, this Chapter requires battle against corruption and establishment of respect of fundamental rights.

As per Chapter 24, the main objective of all activities within this Chapter is to ensure free movement of people and their safety. As a future Schengen country, Serbia needs to reform police and to provide a strong and well-integrated administrative capacity, which would be able to ensure effective boarder control, visa regime, fight against organised crime and against terrorism, cooperation in the field of drugs control, etc.

According to all mentioned above, Serbia will have to introduce EU legislation under the new laws, which will enable it to fulfil membership requirements. This process has already been started by adopting new Enforcement and Security Act, so it can be expected that in the near future there will be more legal reforms.

By Milan Samardzic, Partner, SOG / Samardzic, Oreski & Grbovic

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