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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Second round of technical talks to begin tomorrow in Belgrade

Belgrade, 21 February 2006

A sectoral meeting between representatives of Serbia and the EU has been held today in Belgrade. The meeting was organised within Serbia-Montenegro's advanced standing dialogue with the EU and concerned the domestic market and competition, traffic, energy sources, the information society and the media.

Another meeting on the same subject took place yesterday in Podgorica with Montenegro's representatives. It was held in line with the "double-track" principle, which is applied in the talks on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.

Following these sectoral meetings, the second round of technical talks on the SAA will take place in Belgrade tomorrow. Serbian and Montenegrin teams will hold a joint meeting with EU representatives to discuss issues that fall under the jurisdiction of both the state union and individual republics.

The meeting will concern the free movement of services, workforce, capital and goods, as well as the harmonisation of legislature and the cooperation policy.

On the second day, the Serbian and Montenegrin negotiating teams will hold separate meetings regarding concessions for industrial, agricultural and fish products after which Serbia-Montenegro's team will hold a joint closing meeting with EU representatives.

Head of the Serbian negotiating team is Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Miroljub Labus, while Montenegrin Minister of International Economic Relations and EU Integration Gordana Djurovic is head of the Montenegrin team. Therese Sobieski is leading the team of the EU Directorate for Western Balkans.

Talks with the EU should last until November, when the signing of the SAA is expected to take place. Three more rounds of technical talks are to take place in the meantime, at which there will be further discussion of trade liberalisation, as well as two official rounds of talks.