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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Government adopts report on EU integration progress

Belgrade, 10 April 2009

The Serbian government adopted this month’s report on Serbia’s progress in EU integration. The report states that all obligations stemming from the transitional trade agreement with the EU are being fulfilled according to the dynamics envisaged by the Stablisation and Association Agreement, with the exception of the liberalisation of the Serbian transit transport system for EU transporters.

According to a statement by the EU Integration Office this will be carried out when the EU begins to implement the agreement. The report which was presented by the EU Integration Office says that the total value of the goods imported from the EU in February, the first month since the implementation of the transitional trade agreement began, stood at €550.6 million.

According to Finance Ministry statistics €7.95 million was paid in customs revenues in February, which is only €3.83 million less than if the transitional trade agreement were not to be implemented.

The European Commission informed EU exporters on April 7 that Serbia has started the implementation of the transitional trade agreement, pointing to the advantages of marketing goods on the Serbian market, as well as the obligation to certify the origin of EU goods exported to the Serbian market.

The laws on competition protection and state support, which according to the Decision concerning the implementation of the transitional trade agreement the government is obliged to pass, have been forwarded to parliament.

The work being done on passing other European laws related to EU integration is being monitored and regular reports are presented regarding the National European Integration Programme. A report is currently being drafted on the implementation of the Programme during the first quarter of 2009.

Concerning visa liberalisation it is stressed in the report that expert missions, consisting of EU experts and European Commission representatives, entrusted with the task to assess conditions in Serbia with respect to the fulfillment of criteria, have finished their work.

The EU experts are currently preparing a report which the European Commission will rely on to present its assessment of whether the criteria have been fulfilled and on the basis of this estimation a decision will be made if the EU Council of Ministers should propose the removal of visa restrictions for Serbia or not.

Serbia is currently implementing projects financed by 2007 and 2008 IPA funds which is the usual dynamics of using IPA funds. A total of 36 projects valued at €40 million were approved for 2007 for institution building and supporting transition.

The financial agreement concerning the use of IPA programme 2008 funds of €168 million was signed on April 1 and the European Commission approved 37 projects in Serbia for 2008.

Planning of the first component of the IPA programme for 2009 is underway and it is possible that because of the global economic crisis and the anticipated hole in the budget, according to a decision by the European Commission funds could be redirected to support the budget.

The monthly reports on Serbia’s EU integration progress contain information about the implementation of the Stablisation and Association Agreement, the implementation of the National European Integration Programme, visa liberalisation, the distribution of IPA programme funds, the Enhanced Permanent Dialogue with the EU, contributions to the European Commission’s annual report and preparation for drafting a national version of EU legislative norms.