Q:
A:
EU member countries united in opinion that dialogue with Serbia should continue
Belgrade,
26 July 2006
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ivana Dulic-Markovic said today on the occasion of opening the meeting of the Enhanced Permanent Dialogue between Serbia and the EU, that this meeting is an encouraging signal in relations with the EU, which urges us to work persistently to resolve the problem that has temporarily stopped us from continuing on the path of European integration, and to continue the reforms that have begun.
A statement by the Serbian government’s EU Integration Office says that Finnish Ambassador to Serbia Anna Maija Korpi, speaking on behalf of member countries of the EU, stressed that this first meeting between Serbia and the EU presents an opportunity to examine implementation of priorities in European partnership.
Korpi said that she expects that the Action Plan for completing cooperation with the Hague tribunal will soon produce results, allowing continuation of negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).
According to Korpi, the European perspective is a key element in the socio-economic development of Serbia. With that in mind the EU has adopted a new amended mandate for negotiations on concluding the SAA, and has initiated procedure so that negotiations on relaxation of visa regime could begin in autumn.
She said that 23 programmes of the EU are open to Serbia, including the future Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) funds, which are meant to provide financial support to countries in the process of joining the EU.
Director of the Directorate for the Western Balkans Reinhard Priebe stressed that adoption of the new mandate for negotiations is an important signal which shows that EU member countries are united in their opinion that dialogue with Serbia should be continued.
Priebe said that the SAA will be concluded by end of year, as long as the expected cooperation with the Hague tribunal is realised.
At today’s meeting representatives of the Serbian government and the European Commission talked on the implementation of European partnership, on legal and institutional aspects of taking over jurisdiction from the level of the former state union, above all in the area of foreign affairs, defence, human and minority rights, visa, asylum and immigration, and protection of intellectual property rights, quality of statistical systems and infrastructure.
Questions regarding public administration reform, review of the Constitution, and customs and trade were also discussed, reads the statement.
Korpi said that she expects that the Action Plan for completing cooperation with the Hague tribunal will soon produce results, allowing continuation of negotiations on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA).
According to Korpi, the European perspective is a key element in the socio-economic development of Serbia. With that in mind the EU has adopted a new amended mandate for negotiations on concluding the SAA, and has initiated procedure so that negotiations on relaxation of visa regime could begin in autumn.
She said that 23 programmes of the EU are open to Serbia, including the future Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) funds, which are meant to provide financial support to countries in the process of joining the EU.
Director of the Directorate for the Western Balkans Reinhard Priebe stressed that adoption of the new mandate for negotiations is an important signal which shows that EU member countries are united in their opinion that dialogue with Serbia should be continued.
Priebe said that the SAA will be concluded by end of year, as long as the expected cooperation with the Hague tribunal is realised.
At today’s meeting representatives of the Serbian government and the European Commission talked on the implementation of European partnership, on legal and institutional aspects of taking over jurisdiction from the level of the former state union, above all in the area of foreign affairs, defence, human and minority rights, visa, asylum and immigration, and protection of intellectual property rights, quality of statistical systems and infrastructure.
Questions regarding public administration reform, review of the Constitution, and customs and trade were also discussed, reads the statement.
-
Belgrade, 7 November 2025Gratitude to Italy for continuous support for Serbia’s European path
-
Belgrade/Doha, 4 November 2025Serbia among signatories of new declaration on social development in Doha
-
Belgrade, 3 November 2025Assessments of Serbia’s reform efforts should be based on realistic indicators
-
Belgrade, 28 October 2025Improving comprehensive cooperation between Serbia, Ireland
-
Belgrade, 28 October 2025Rotation of Serbian Armed Forces medical team in mission in Central African Republic
-
Belgrade, 22 October 2025Police working intensively to clarify incident outside parliament
-
Belgrade, 8 October 2025Strong protest over continued arming of Priština, violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244
-
Topola, 7 October 2025Diplomatic corps visits Topola, Oplenac
-
Belgrade, 6 October 2025Continuation of intensive cooperation with Russia in all areas of mutual interest
-
Belgrade, 6 October 2025Boat carrying several Chinese citizens capsizes on Danube