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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Visa liberalisation, readmission agreements to be signed tomorrow in Brussels

Belgrade, 17 September 2007

Serbian Minister of Interior Dragan Jocic will sign tomorrow in Brussels agreements on visa liberalisation and readmission between Serbia and the EU, allowing certain categories of Serbian citizens to get easier access to the EU as of January 1, 2008.

The agreement, which was initialled in early May, will be signed on behalf of the EU by European Commissioner Franco Frattini and Portuguese Interior Minister for Internal Administration Rui Pereira.

Visa liberalisation will apply to businesspeople, students, experts, doctors, lawyers, architects, athletes, artists and cultural workers, civil activists and employees in NGO sector, journalists, members of religious communities and other categories.

This will also include some types of tourist travel upon the condition that travel agencies can provide a guarantee for their clients.

All categories of citizens under the liberalised regime will get visas in EU consulates free of charge.

The agreement on readmission is a precondition for the agreement on visa liberalisation and envisions return of Serbian citizens who reside in the EU illegally.

Three steps need to be achieved to fully abolish the visa system for Serbian citizens; the full implementation of visa relaxation agreement, overall dialogue on visa liberalisation and improving security measures in the Western Balkan region.