Q:
A:
Serbia will sign CEFTA
Belgrade,
13 December 2006
State Secretary at the Serbian Ministry of International Economic Relations Vlatko Sekulovic announced that despite the fact that Croatia rejected Serbia’s proposals, Serbia will sign the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).
Sekulovic told Tanjug that the agreement will be signed on December 19 in Bucharest, after which certain requests of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina should be met.
He recalled that concrete proposals refereed to the reduction of taxes on cigarettes by a certain percentage.
Sekulovic explained that if there is a positive reaction of other partners in the region, this will be good, but if partners do not back the Serbian proposal, Serbia will have two options: to establish uniform systems regulating excises on cigarettes or that every country protects the domestic market, which would mean that positions of all are the same up to the EU accession.
Croatia explained that certain rules must be respected which are defined in bilateral agreements and in CEFTA, whereas Serbia’s position is that reality needs to be considered, according to him.
Even if Croatia does not give a positive response by December 19, CEFTA will be signed, he said but noted that this would not mean that Serbia will give up its interests.
Speaking on how CEFTA defines status of Kosovo-Metohija, he said that territorial integrity of Serbia is respected whereas the signatory on behalf of Kosovo-Metohija will be UNMIK.
He recalled that concrete proposals refereed to the reduction of taxes on cigarettes by a certain percentage.
Sekulovic explained that if there is a positive reaction of other partners in the region, this will be good, but if partners do not back the Serbian proposal, Serbia will have two options: to establish uniform systems regulating excises on cigarettes or that every country protects the domestic market, which would mean that positions of all are the same up to the EU accession.
Croatia explained that certain rules must be respected which are defined in bilateral agreements and in CEFTA, whereas Serbia’s position is that reality needs to be considered, according to him.
Even if Croatia does not give a positive response by December 19, CEFTA will be signed, he said but noted that this would not mean that Serbia will give up its interests.
Speaking on how CEFTA defines status of Kosovo-Metohija, he said that territorial integrity of Serbia is respected whereas the signatory on behalf of Kosovo-Metohija will be UNMIK.
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Serbian Army remains committed to UNIFIL tasks
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Switzerland’s financial support for reform processes in Serbia
-
Belgrade, 30 March 2026Cooperation with Russia, Belarus in areas of mutual interest
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026World Bank support for implementation of priority energy projects
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026Continued cooperation with Germany on utility infrastructure projects
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Activities of state institutions for opening clusters 2 and 5 examined
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Exchange of experiences with Slovakia in field of ICT
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Advancing regional cooperation in response to emergencies
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Ample potential for further strengthening cooperation between Serbia, Slovakia
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Serbia committed to enhancing cooperation with United States in numerous areas