Executive Director of Belgrade Open School (BOS), Milorad Bjeletic, spoke about the significance of Serbia's accession to European Union (EU), in “15 minutes” show, broadcasted by “Južne vesti”. Bjeletic said that the results of the questionnaire about support to EU accession are irrelevant. Although 49% of citizens are in favor of EU accession, it is more important to know how many citizens want positive changes, since they will determine whether this act of accession will happen. What is important for the citizens of Serbia is what is happening in the meantime. EU accession is not a goal by itself, rather a better quality of life for people in Serbia, Bjeletic emphasized.

He stressed that the main problem is insufficiently information for the citizens, from the government, about the possibilities and changes that the EU offers. Legal acts should not only be adopted but also implemented in order to improve the lives of citizens. It can be achieved only if the government speaks the language that citizens understand, Bjeletic emphasized.

Our business practices, way of live, our communication with the authorities, the way we regulate the environment, education, health, the justice system, are not EU conditions, but the opportunity for our society to undergo deep changes and improve the living conditions for the citizens of the Republic of Serbia. Whether we will reduce corruption and how, how we will regulate justice system, whether we will pollute our own rivers is the sole issue for ourselves, and not for anyone else, says Bjeletic. The EU sets standards and it is up to us to transpose them, and up to them to confirm them. The road towards EU is more important, then accession itself.

Portal “Južne vesti” are program partner of BOS within the Civil Society and Media Support Program in the field of European Integration. Their aim is to report about the influence of EU integration on a daily life in Serbia. The Civil Society and Media Support Program in the field of European Integration is implemented within the project "Civil Society for the European Union – CS4EU", with the support of Sweden.

The entire video of the show is available on the link below.