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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Faster EU accession Serbia’s strategic priority in 2009

Belgrade/Budapest, 9 February 2009

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic said in Budapest today that Serbia’s main strategic priority in 2009 is faster EU accession, adding that Hungary has offered its full endorsement to Serbia’s plan.

Delivering a lecture at the Korvinus University in Budapest, Jeremic said that Serbia has a long way to go yet before EU entry but that 2009 can become a turning point and push Serbia toward EU integration.

If we double our efforts and if there is good will, as is the case in many parts of Europe, this year can become a key year for EU integration, stressed the Minister, thanking Hungary for supporting Serbia’s visa liberalisation plan.

With your help and the help from other EU states, the queues in front of European embassies in Belgrade could become a thing of the past before the year’s end, stressed Jeremic, reiterating that the Transitional Trade Agreement between Serbia and the EU should be unfrozen.

Hungary, together with the majority of EU countries, does not doubt that Serbia fully cooperates with the Hague Tribunal. We suggested that the EU sends a mission to Belgrade in order to see the full scope of Serbia’s cooperation with the tribunal, so that the EU could be properly informed of Serbia’s efforts to fulfil its obligations towards the court, said Jeremic.

The Minister noted that Serbia will be able to fully commit itself to fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria when the last obstacle is surpassed.

With the help from our partners, such as Hungary, Serbia could officially acquire the EU candidate status before the end of the year, Jeremic reiterated.

If this becomes a reality in 2009, our society could be freed from the insecurities of the transitional no-man’s land, which would be replaced by a clear intention, which is very important in the time of international political and economic instability which affects us all, said the Minister.

He recalled that Serbia has demonstrated it’s commitment to regional cooperation, despite the fact that some countries decided to recognise the unilaterally proclaimed Kosovo independence.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kinga Göncz stressed that there is a good chance that Serbia will be placed on the Schengen ‘white list’ as early as this year.

She affirmed that the Copenhagen criteria are the only condition for EU entry, adding that they need not be added to or expanded.

Göncz and Jeremic, who today signed a protocol on cooperation between their ministries, stressed after the meeting that they are excellent partners in all areas of the political, economic and cultural sphere, adding that both sides are ready to re-establish the direct Belgrade–Budapest air line.