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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Intensification of cooperation between Serbia, Netherlands

Belgrade/The Hague, 25 November 2015

State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior and Head of the Negotiating Group on Chapter 24 of the accession negotiations of the Republic of Serbia with the European Union Aleksandar Nikolic visited the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a country which will chair the EU from January to June 2016.

Aleksandar Nikolic and Klaas Dijkhoff

The Ministry of the Interior said that Nikolic at a meeting with State Secretary of Security and Justice and Minister for Immigration Klaas Dijkhoff agreed that the right approach within the migrant crisis is solving the cause, not the consequence.

It was noted that the European Union is still looking for a response and that the policy is not clearly defined and that the Republic of Serbia is doing all within its capacity.

Although they have different positions when it comes to the migrant crisis – Serbia being a country through which migrants only pass, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a country of destination for migrants, it was agreed that the two countries intensify cooperation and exchange of information, to prepare for the reception or transit of migrants during the winter period.

Aleksandar Nikolic and Joost Flamand

In meeting at the Foreign Ministry with Deputy Director at European Integration Department Joost Flamand and Coordinator EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Suzanne de Groot, Nikolic pointed to all the challenges that the Negotiating Group for Chapter 24 is faced with.

On this occasion he pointed out that Serbia expects an invitation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands for participation in the intergovernmental conference of the EU-Serbia, which will officially open this negotiation chapter.

It was agreed to intensify cooperation with the regional coordinator of the Kingdom of the Netherlands regarding the rule of law, particularly in the framework of monitoring and reporting the progress of the Republic of Serbia in the integration process in the EU.

Representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands pointed out that the Republic of Serbia has done a great job, that the Netherlands will continue to insist on a strict implementation of the acquis communautaire, but also that they will be fair and will not block Serbia with the new requirements for Chapter 24.

Terrorism and police cooperation in exchanging information about terrorism was the subject of talks with Deputy National Coordinator for security and the fight against terrorism in the government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Patricia Zorko.

Nikolic pointed out that the main method of fight against terrorism is international cooperation and information exchange and also offered to help our country to the European Union in the fight against terrorism.

Zorko pointed out that the assistance of the Republic of Serbia is welcome, and that the Kingdom of the Netherlands will support all forms of deeper cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Serbia in order to combat foreign terrorist fighters, according to a statement.