Štir and Steinmeier: Chapter 26 to be opened soon

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier and Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Davor Ivo Štir discussed the opening of chapters in the process of Serbia's accession to the EU in Berlin and announced that Chapter 26 on education and culture could be opened "very soon", Hina and Tanjug report, Patria reports.

Steinmeier emphasized at a press conference after the meeting that Germany was in favor of all three chapters being opened, as a sign of recognition for Serbia's achievements.

- Croatia is currently a little more reserved about this, and this needs to be clarified in talks with the European Commission. I hope that all three chapters will be opened as soon as possible, in order to maintain the credibility of the enlargement process, especially when it comes to the Western Balkans, Steinmeier said.

According to him, accession processes should be conducted in such a way that countries that fulfill their obligations see that their efforts pay off.

- We agreed that the process of Serbia's approximation to the EU must continue, but in such a way that countries that fulfill their obligations must see that their efforts pay off. We discussed this and the opening of chapters, Steinmeier said.

Štir explained that the disputed Chapter 26, Education and Culture, could be opened after additional talks with the European Commission.

- I believe that the opening and closing will happen very soon, perhaps as early as the beginning of 2017, Štir said.