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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

EU delegation proposes 5-year harmonisation period

Belgrade, 23 February 2006

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Serbian team for negotiating with the EU Miroljub Labus said tonight that the European Commission delegation proposed a transition period for Serbia which will include a harmonisation period of five years, as part of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.

Miroljub Labus

Author: Fonet

Following the completion of the second round of technical negotiations with the EU, Labus said that the EU representatives initially proposed a ten-year transition period, while the Serbian team proposed a six-year period, explaining that ten years would be too long. Finally, the EU delegation agreed to a harmonisation period of five years.

Labus added that the Serbian team is considering the proposal and will state its viewpoint very soon.

He also said that the meeting concerned the lists of industrial and agricultural goods adding that both types of goods must be considered separately. At the end of the harmonisation period there will be no customs duties on industrial goods though agricultural products will be protected in a certain manner, he added.

According to Labus, around 20 of the most important agricultural products will still have a certain degree of protection.

"We also discussed certain protocols accompanying the SAA" said Labus, adding that the discussion went well at the technical level.

According to Labus, Serbia needs another technical meeting to conclude one more portion of the work. "With one more political meeting, I believe we can complete the entire work in June", concluded Labus.