Q:
A:
Removal of visa restrictions for Serbian citizens by end-year
Belgrade,
7 May 2008
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic said that the delivery of the roadmap for abolishing visas for Serbian citizens marks the reality that visa restrictions will be removed by the end of the year.
Jacques Barrot and Bozidar Djelic
Author:
Fonet
Speaking at the ceremony for the delivery of the roadmap, Djelic said that it is up to Serbia to fulfil all conditions set forth in the document for the removal of visa restrictions, and added that just as Serbia succeeded in signing the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), it will also be successful in meeting all conditions for the removal of visa restrictions by the end of the year.
He recalled that 17 EU member countries decided yesterday to offer free visas to a large number of categories of Serbian citizens, and expressed gratitude to France for launching this initiative.
Djelic said that he expects that all Schengen countries will soon join this initiative, and added that Serbia’s aim is not to remove taxes for issuing visas, rather to remove visa restrictions.
He recalled that the EU’s plan for liberalisation of the visa regime sets forth conditions which Serbia shall most certainly meet, and pointed to the fact that some of these conditions have already been met.
According to Djelic, laws on travel documents and asylum have been adopted, and bills are being prepared which will be adopted very soon by the new parliament, such as the laws on protection of personal information, borders and the position of foreigners.
Djelic said that these laws will create the legal framework for the removal of visa restrictions, and recalled that the agreement on visa relaxations and readmission has been successfully implemented for four months already.
The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that conditions concerning judicial and security system reforms will be met as well, and added that progress has been made in this area already.
I want to dedicate this day to Interior Minister Dragan Jocic, because he and his ministry deserve great praise for what has been achieved and wish for his quick recovery and return to public life as soon as possible, said Djelic.
The Serbian Deputy Prime Minister handed over to Vice-President of the European Commission Jacques Barrot the model of the new Serbian passport, the issuance of which was one of the key conditions for the removal of visa restrictions. Barrot said that Serbia is one of the first countries with such a passport and called on Serbia to confirm its political will to establish firm ties with the EU, noting that Serbian citizens are welcome in the European family of nations.
He said he hopes that creating a fast roadmap for abolishing the visa regime with Serbia is a convincing and concrete sign of the EU’s political will and at the same time completion of the first stage of the visa dialogue.
According to him, liberalisation of the visa regime with Western Balkan countries is a part of obligations assumed in Thessaloniki in 2003.
Barrot said that the visa liberalisation plan lists a series of measures referring to safety of passports, efficient border control, fight against illegal immigration, fight against organised crime and corruption and respect of democratic values and basic principles.
He announced that application of some measures will start in the upcoming weeks, one of which will be the issuance of the new passports with biometric data.
The presentation of the roadmap was attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic and Minister of Justice Dusan Petrovic.
He recalled that 17 EU member countries decided yesterday to offer free visas to a large number of categories of Serbian citizens, and expressed gratitude to France for launching this initiative.
Djelic said that he expects that all Schengen countries will soon join this initiative, and added that Serbia’s aim is not to remove taxes for issuing visas, rather to remove visa restrictions.
He recalled that the EU’s plan for liberalisation of the visa regime sets forth conditions which Serbia shall most certainly meet, and pointed to the fact that some of these conditions have already been met.
According to Djelic, laws on travel documents and asylum have been adopted, and bills are being prepared which will be adopted very soon by the new parliament, such as the laws on protection of personal information, borders and the position of foreigners.
Djelic said that these laws will create the legal framework for the removal of visa restrictions, and recalled that the agreement on visa relaxations and readmission has been successfully implemented for four months already.
The Deputy Prime Minister pledged that conditions concerning judicial and security system reforms will be met as well, and added that progress has been made in this area already.
I want to dedicate this day to Interior Minister Dragan Jocic, because he and his ministry deserve great praise for what has been achieved and wish for his quick recovery and return to public life as soon as possible, said Djelic.
The Serbian Deputy Prime Minister handed over to Vice-President of the European Commission Jacques Barrot the model of the new Serbian passport, the issuance of which was one of the key conditions for the removal of visa restrictions. Barrot said that Serbia is one of the first countries with such a passport and called on Serbia to confirm its political will to establish firm ties with the EU, noting that Serbian citizens are welcome in the European family of nations.
He said he hopes that creating a fast roadmap for abolishing the visa regime with Serbia is a convincing and concrete sign of the EU’s political will and at the same time completion of the first stage of the visa dialogue.
According to him, liberalisation of the visa regime with Western Balkan countries is a part of obligations assumed in Thessaloniki in 2003.
Barrot said that the visa liberalisation plan lists a series of measures referring to safety of passports, efficient border control, fight against illegal immigration, fight against organised crime and corruption and respect of democratic values and basic principles.
He announced that application of some measures will start in the upcoming weeks, one of which will be the issuance of the new passports with biometric data.
The presentation of the roadmap was attended by Serbian President Boris Tadic and Minister of Justice Dusan Petrovic.
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