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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia's EU candidacy possible by end-2008

Belgrade, 25 July 2007

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said today that Serbia could get the status of EU candidate country by the end of 2008.

Bozidar Djelic

Author: Fonet

Djelic said that apart from this ambitious plan, Serbia plans to be placed upon the White Schengen List within 18 to 24 months.

He announced that by January 1, 2008 the visa relaxation agreement with the EU will come into force that will allow some categories of citizens to get EU visas more easily.

Speaking on the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), Djelic recalled that there is one technical round of negotiations with the European Commission scheduled for September 10 left.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed belief that Serbia could initial the SAA as early as October and sign it by the end of the year, which exclusively depends on completion of Serbia's cooperation with The Hague.

Oliver Dulic

Author: Fonet

He stressed that the process of EU integration and resolution of Kosovo status are separate issues, noting that Serbia will never give up one of its state priorities – preservation of Kosovo within Serbia – on account of EU membership.

Presenting the plan of joint activities of the government and parliament in the EU integration process, Djelic said that executive and judicial authorities must improve cooperation in order to accelerate the integration process.

According to him, parliament should adopt laws on passports, borders, asylum, foreigners and protection of personal data as soon as possible.

Serbian citizens could get new passports according to European standards already in spring next year, he said and noted that Serbia must speed up the process of adoption of the Constitutional Law and to ratify CEFTA and Kyoto Protocol.

Parliament speaker Oliver Dulic hailed the unity in parliament shown by voting on the new resolution on Kosovo-Metohija yesterday and expressed hope that the same unity will be shown in the process of EU integration.