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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Serbia could be put on White Schengen List during France’s EU presidency

Belgrade/Paris, 15 October 2007

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic, who is on a three-day visit to France, today met with French Minister of Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Cooperative Development Brice Hortefeux.

Bozidar Djelic, left, and Brice Hortefeux

Author: Fonet

Hortefeux announced that if Serbia meets all technical and legal preconditions related to passport security, border control, readmission and fight against organised crime and corruption, it can expect to be put on the White Schengen List during France’s EU presidency.

This is the first time that an official of an EU country gave a time frame for the inclusion of Serbia on the White Schengen List.

France will take over the six-month EU presidency from Slovenia on July 1, 2008.

Djelic also met with Minister of State responsible for Business and Foreign Trade at the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Employment Hervé Novelli and discussed possibilities of improving bilateral and economic cooperation between the two countries. Djelic said that economic cooperation is on the rise, specifying that last year the import of French products to Serbia increased by 30%, and export of Serbian products to France grew by 40%. In 2006, France was the ninth largest importer of Serbian goods, while it was seventh in investments in Serbia. However, Djelic said that despite progress, foreign trade exchange is still not at a satisfactory level. He presented to Novelli the plan for investing in infrastructure and the energy sector; areas in which Serbia expects a greater presence from French companies. Djelic said that Serbia expects the interest of the French electricity distribution company in taking part in the construction of two thermoelectric power plants in Serbia, with the capacity of 700 megawatts. French companies are also expected to take part in the opening of capital of Telekom Srbija, and in the privatisation of the Pancevo glass factory and joint-stock insurance company DDOR Novi Sad, in which French insurance companies "Aksa" and "Grupama" showed interest. The Serbian Deputy Prime Minister had a working luncheon with representatives of French companies at Medef, the largest union of employers in France. The luncheon was hosted by Medef honorary president François Périgot.

Djelic is also scheduled to meet with representatives of France Cooperation International (FCI), a inter-ministerial body in charge of developing international cooperation, and in the evening he will attend a working dinner hosted by Director of the French International Relations Institute (IFRI) Tierry de Montbrial.

Today's talks of the Deputy Prime Minister in Paris are also attended by Serbian Minister for Diaspora Milica Cubrilo. On October 16, Djelic will speak about investments in Serbia at the French Agency for International Business Development (UBIFrance), which will be attended by French Ambassador to Serbia Jean-Francois Terral, head of the Economic Mission of France in Serbia Pierre Coste and Serbian Minister for Diaspora Milica Cubrilo.