(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency)
Brussels, Shawwal 13, 1437, July 18, 2016, SPA -- Serbia took a step forward Monday in its bid to join the European Union, as the bloc launched membership negotiations with Belgrade in the key areas of justice and fundamental rights, according to dpa.
Negotiations began Monday on two of the EU's 35 accession chapters - Chapter 23 on the judiciary and fundamental rights, and Chapter 24 on justice, freedom and security. Each chapter covers an area in which membership hopefuls must align themselves with EU standards.
"We are opening two important and demanding chapters in the accession process. These chapters are tied to basic values and principles of the EU," said Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.
The country must now carry out "substantial" reforms in areas such as migration, asylum, visa policy, external border management, judicial and police cooperation and the fight against corruption, terrorism and organized crime, the EU said in a statement.
--SPA
22:55 LOCAL TIME 19:55 GMT
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