Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and head of the negotiating team for talks with the EU Miroljub Labus said in a meeting with Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja that the Serbian government's priority in the following period will be to bring Serbia closer to the EU, and to succeed in the talks about and the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).
Labus pointed out that Serbia is ready for the talks on the SAA, which the EU heads of diplomacy gave the green light for yesterday.
He reiterated that Serbia has prepared a platform for negotiations and recalled that the EU is expected to complete a draft of the contract soon, after which discussion on technical issues will begin. Labus also expressed his belief that these negotiations will begin in November.
Finland confirmed its strong support for bringing Serbia closer to the EU, and agreed to convey this opinion to the EU in the second half of 2006, when the country assumes the EU’s rotating presidency.
Tuomioja and Labus also discussed political and economical opportunities in Serbia as well as its business climate and the possibilities for foreign investment.