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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Czech Republic strongly supports European integration of Serbia

Belgrade/Prague, 10 December 2018

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said today in Prague that Serbia and the Czech Republic have no open issues, that cooperation is getting better and that she is grateful for the support that this country gives Serbia on the path of European integration.

At a joint press conference with the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Brnabic said that she handed over an invitation to Czech President Milos Zeman to visit Serbia again and that he promised to come in 2019, and she voiced hope that the Czech Prime Minister will also visit Serbia.

She recalled that the Czech Republic has always strongly supported the EU Enlargement agenda and promoted the Western Balkans, and especially Serbia, which is crucial for stability of the region and which should pull the whole region into the EU.

Today Serbia has opened two chapters, now we have 16 chapters opened out of 35, and two are temporarily closed. I wish the dynamic were stronger though, the Prime Minister said.

Brnabic especially thanked the Czech Republic for voting to open three chapters this time.

Also, Brnabic estimated that economic cooperation is getting better and better and that in the last nine years it has increased two and a half times.

A dynamic trend is noticeable, and in the first ten months of this year, there was an increase of 17% compared to the previous year. A lot of Czech investors are already present in Serbia, and many of them had meetings with me over the last few days, Brnabic added.

The Prime Minister stated that, after the “PPF Group” took over “Telenor”, the Czech Republic became the fourth largest foreign investor in Serbia. She recalled other Czech investments - the "14.oktobar" factory was bought by the “Czechoslovak Group” and "Avala Film” by company "Sebre".

The talks are underway with two Czech investors. Czech companies are interested in agriculture, defence industry and mining, the Prime Minister added.

She explained that Serbia has a lot to learn from the Czech Republic and stated that unemployment rate in that country is only 2 percent, the lowest in Europe.

Today's meeting of the Mixed Commission and the signing of the Clearing Debt Agreement are also indications of better relations, she said, stating that after the ratification of the agreement, Serbia will settle the debt and close the issue within 45 days.

Brnabic also thanked the Czech Republic for having a contingent within KFOR and contributing to peacekeeping in Kosovo-Metohija.

The Prime Minister pointed out that the Czech national minority in Serbia is well integrated and it contributes to the strengthening of the country.

Thank you for your genuine friendship, Brnabic concluded.

Babis stated that Serbia is an important partner for the Czech Republic, as well as other countries of the Western Balkans.

Our relations are excellent and cooperation has lasted for a long time without any problems, Babis said.

He stressed that the Czech Republic supports Serbia on its path of EU integration, and that it understands the Serbian Prime Minister when she is not satisfied with the dynamic of the accession process, but that he hopes this process will go faster.

Also, the Czech Prime Minister expressed his conviction that the countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia, should become part of the Schengen Area.

Babis highlighted the importance of signing the Clearing Debt Agreement, which is the debt from the time of the SFRY, as well as good cooperation within the Mixed Committee for Economic Cooperation, which holds its 11th session today.

According to him, the trade between the two countries last year amounted to 866 million Czech crowns, and the share of Serbian imports is increasing.

I will be glad if Serbia becomes a member of the World Trade Organization. Natural resources, energy, lithium deposits, industry, these are attractive areas for Czech investors and we will be happy to mediate in making contacts. The Czech Republic has become the fourth largest foreign investor in Serbia. Cooperation goes in the right direction, and we also cooperate in the military field, Babis said.

The Czech Prime Minister pointed out that 77 percent of Serbian exports goes to the EU, and this growth will continue.

He said that there are still several thousand migrants in the territory of Serbia, and recalled that in 2015 Serbia was hardest hit by the migrant wave. The Czech Republic is helping as much as it can – it has allocated 27 million Czech crowns in aid, and it sent its police to the border.

Babis added that the Czech Republic is ready to continue to help Serbia when it comes to the issue of migrants, in the manner that the Serbian government deems necessary.