Q:
A:
Serbia expects increased funds from EU pre-accession funds
Belgrade/Brussels,
19 June 2008
Serbian Minister of Economy and Regional Development Mladjan Dinkic stated today in Brussels that it is feasible for Serbia to acquire EU candidate status in the first year of the new government’s mandate, as well as increased funds from EU pre-accession funds.
Following a meeting with EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Dinkic told the press he hopes that in the same period visas for Serbian citizens will also be abolished.
He said that Rehn told him that the EU is determined to speed up Serbia’s accession process which will begin with Belgrade’s candidacy for EU membership.
According to him, a provisional trade agreement between Serbia and the EU is to come into force in July. He also added that he talked with Rehn about the date when Serbia could submit a request for EU candidate status.
I emphasised Serbia’s need for increased funds, greater than the envisaged €1 billion for the next five years, which would primarily be designated for construction of road infrastructure, as well as for regional development and improvement of Serbian citizens’ standard of living, said Dinkic.
He said that Serbia needs at least €3 billion for restructuring and reforms to which Rehn replied that the matter will be discussed soon.
Dinkic announced he will discuss that with relevant officials in the European Commission in order to determine the possible consequences caused by an increase in Serbia’s pre-accession funds as soon as Belgrade acquires EU candidate status.
According to him, the largest incentives for SMEs and for employment will be set aside from the Serbian budget, adding that the government’s first application for funds from EU pre-accession funds will be for the Corridor 10 project.
The European Commission has recently launched a new arrangement called "Investment Package for Support to Western Balkans", which could be important for Serbia, however, what we count on the most are non-repayable funds, concluded Dinkic.
He said that Rehn told him that the EU is determined to speed up Serbia’s accession process which will begin with Belgrade’s candidacy for EU membership.
According to him, a provisional trade agreement between Serbia and the EU is to come into force in July. He also added that he talked with Rehn about the date when Serbia could submit a request for EU candidate status.
I emphasised Serbia’s need for increased funds, greater than the envisaged €1 billion for the next five years, which would primarily be designated for construction of road infrastructure, as well as for regional development and improvement of Serbian citizens’ standard of living, said Dinkic.
He said that Serbia needs at least €3 billion for restructuring and reforms to which Rehn replied that the matter will be discussed soon.
Dinkic announced he will discuss that with relevant officials in the European Commission in order to determine the possible consequences caused by an increase in Serbia’s pre-accession funds as soon as Belgrade acquires EU candidate status.
According to him, the largest incentives for SMEs and for employment will be set aside from the Serbian budget, adding that the government’s first application for funds from EU pre-accession funds will be for the Corridor 10 project.
The European Commission has recently launched a new arrangement called "Investment Package for Support to Western Balkans", which could be important for Serbia, however, what we count on the most are non-repayable funds, concluded Dinkic.
-
Belgrade, 8 April 2026Serbia remains firmly committed to strengthening cooperation in region
-
Belgrade, 7 April 2026Serbia’s infrastructure, economic development through partnership with China
-
Belgrade, 6 April 2026Anniversary of 1941 bombing of Belgrade marked
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Serbian Army remains committed to UNIFIL tasks
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2026Switzerland’s financial support for reform processes in Serbia
-
Belgrade, 30 March 2026Cooperation with Russia, Belarus in areas of mutual interest
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026World Bank support for implementation of priority energy projects
-
Belgrade, 27 March 2026Continued cooperation with Germany on utility infrastructure projects
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Activities of state institutions for opening clusters 2 and 5 examined
-
Belgrade, 26 March 2026Exchange of experiences with Slovakia in field of ICT