European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilčík told N1 on Thursday he expected the European Commission (EC) new report on Serbia by early October which would “look at all the areas where Serbia has made progress, all the areas that are critical and all the areas that need improvement.”

He said the fact that Serbia did not open any negotiating chapter in accession talks with the European Union spoke for itself, but added he hoped the new “report would be an important signal to what needs to be done to make the enlargement a reality.”

“Serbia has said we want to be in the EU… We expect Serbia to deliver. Our task is to monitor, ask questions and follow up on problems. We cannot work on the ground,” and “we cannot force anyone to join the EU,” Bilčík said.

He added that the fact that Serbia did not open a single chapter in the accession negotiation with the European Union in 2020 spoke for itself.

If there is no progress in the rule of law, fight against corruption and other reforms, there is no opening of new chapters, he adds.

“That’s a crystal clear message to you (Belgrade)! Not a single chapter has been opened, the end of the story. I think it’s pretty clear,” Bilčík reiterated.

He also said he expected “an urgent constitution of a new government in Serbia and all parliamentary bodies.

“The elections were in June, now is September. There are only a few months until the end of the year. If Serbia wants to open one chapter at least, we must see the work on that and the results from it,” Bilčík warned.

But, he added he hoped the new “report will be an important signal to what needs to be done to make the enlargement a reality.”

 Bilčík reiterated the EU’s general stand that the future of the Western Balkans was in the bloc,  but, “of course, the key to any meaningful partnership is mutual trust.”

Asked about many reports by the opposition and media in Serbia about corruption, Bilčík said the corruption was a problem.

“And there is no tolerance when it comes to breaches of the rule of law. Corruption, issues of justice, trust in the rule of law are the key when it comes to any future enlargement, they are key to the new methodology which has been welcomed by the authorities in Serbia,” he added.