The EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Council (SA Council) held its third meeting on 13 December 2016. This meeting was chaired by Ms Jadranka Joksimović, Minister without portfolio for EU integration of Serbia, Mr. Miroslav Lajčak, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, led the European Union delegation on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, and by Mr. Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Enlargement Negotiations and European Neighbourhood Policy, represented the European Commission.

The SA Council meeting provided a timely opportunity to review Serbia's progress in its preparations for accession and to consider priorities for further work within the framework of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement.

The SA Council welcomed the major steps Serbia had taken since its last meeting, with the adoption of its action plans for rule of law chapters 23 and 24 as well as progress in the EU facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Priština. In this regard, the SA Council welcomed the opening of chapters 32 (Financial control) and 35 (Other issues: Item 1 - Normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo*) on 14 December 2015, chapters 23 (Judiciary and fundamental rights) and 24 (Justice, freedom and security) on 18 July 2016, as well as the opening of chapter 5 (Public procurement) and the opening and provisional closure of chapter 25 (Science and research) on 13 December 2016. The SA Council also held an exchange of views on developments in the Western Balkans.