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A:
Serbia to acquire EU candidate status by end-2008
Belgrade,
5 June 2008
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic stated today that Serbia has a chance to become an EU candidate before the end of 2008, which is in line with the government’s goal set in May last year.
Bozidar Djelic
At a press conference at which work of the Deputy Prime Minister’s cabinet was presented, Djelic said that Serbia has the administrative capacity for EU accession which will have to be considerably increased in the next several years in such a way as to keep public spending at the same level.
In other words, we need more staff, but we must not increase expenses, explained the Deputy Prime Minister.
According to him, in the past year the Serbian government has been striving to achieve three key goals – acquisition of EU candidate status by end-2008, abolishment of visas and access to EU structural funds.
Djelic announced that Serbia will submit a request for EU candidate status once it adopts the national programme for the country’s EU integration, and added that the government is to discuss the programme today. Afterwards it will be available for public debate and presented to competent EU bodies, he noted.
Speaking on IPA funds, he recalled that a €1 billion IPA support programme for Serbia from 2007 to 2011 and added that the first instalment of €100 million has been paid.
He also added that the government adopted a strategy of decentralised management of EU funds.
Speaking on visa abolition, he said that after receiving the roadmap for visa liberalisation Serbia has a clear list of steps needed for inclusion on the White Schengen List.
One of the steps is the introduction of new passports with enhanced levels of protection and announced that their issuance will begin on June 23.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed gratitude to his coalition partners, associates and collaborators with whom he worked to achieve this goal.
In other words, we need more staff, but we must not increase expenses, explained the Deputy Prime Minister.
According to him, in the past year the Serbian government has been striving to achieve three key goals – acquisition of EU candidate status by end-2008, abolishment of visas and access to EU structural funds.
Djelic announced that Serbia will submit a request for EU candidate status once it adopts the national programme for the country’s EU integration, and added that the government is to discuss the programme today. Afterwards it will be available for public debate and presented to competent EU bodies, he noted.
Speaking on IPA funds, he recalled that a €1 billion IPA support programme for Serbia from 2007 to 2011 and added that the first instalment of €100 million has been paid.
He also added that the government adopted a strategy of decentralised management of EU funds.
Speaking on visa abolition, he said that after receiving the roadmap for visa liberalisation Serbia has a clear list of steps needed for inclusion on the White Schengen List.
One of the steps is the introduction of new passports with enhanced levels of protection and announced that their issuance will begin on June 23.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed gratitude to his coalition partners, associates and collaborators with whom he worked to achieve this goal.
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