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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia makes progress in EU integration

Belgrade, 12 May 2009

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic said today after a meeting with Director for Western Balkans at the European Commission Pierre Mirel that the Serbian authorities are working jointly with European Commission experts to fulfil conditions for visa liberalisation.

Pierre Mirel, left, and Bozidar Djelic

Author: Fonet

The meeting between Djelic and Mirel took place as part of the Enhanced Permanent Dialogue between the EU and Serbia. Djelic said that these meetings are important because a series of questions related to EU integration were brought up.

He said that these issues are related to the judiciary, the fight against corruption, cooperation with the Hague tribunal, minority rights and the police.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that the report on Serbia’s EU integration progress will be presented on October 14, before which Serbia needs to cover a lot of ground, adding that the Serbian Parliament has passed nearly 200 laws which must now be implemented.

Mirel said after the meeting with Djelic that Serbia has made significant progress, adding that the visa restrictions will be removed from each country depending on whether that country has fulfilled its obligations.

All speculation on which countries will be listed on the Schengen white list is too early as this process is not finished. More data need to be collected to finish this report, Mirel explained.

He noted that countries need to get good assessment reports and added that his meetings in Belgrade were useful.

Mirel repeated that Serbia has made substantial progress on its road to the EU when it comes to Serbia’s national programme of EU integration, the adoption of laws in December 2008 and the Anti-Discriminatory Law.

Mirel continued his two-day visit to Belgrade with a meeting of the Enhanced Permanent Dialogue which was dedicated to reforms, democracy and the rule of law, human and minority rights as well as regional issues and international obligations.

Mirel’s visit comes before the meeting of the European Commission which will discuss an assessment report on standards for the inclusion of Western Balkan countries on the Schengen white list.