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SCHAUSBERGER: EU MADE MISTAKE NOT GIVING SERBIA CANDIDACY

BELGRADE, Feb. 2 (Beta) – The key mistake of the European Council was not giving Serbia European Union candidate status in December 2011, said Franz Schausberger, the chair of the Working Group for the Western Balkans of the EU Committee of the Regions.
At the international conference "New Regional Policies and European Experiences" in Belgrade, he said that Serbia was capable of joining the EU and that it was important for stability in the region.
Serbia has the potential to be a driver in the region and the EU must show her how to move down the path toward EU membership," said Schausberger.
According to him, on this path, it is important that Serbia has a good administration at national, regional and local level.
Walter Schwimmer, former secretary general of the European Council, agreed with Schausberger that Serbia deserved to be in the EU.
He underscored that Serbia deserved to be part of the EU. "Serbia could play a central role in the integration of the region," said Schwimmer, who is now the president of Megatrend University in Belgrade.