Q:
A:
European partners support Holland’s change of heart
Belgrade,
22 June 2009
Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic today said that the two-day conference "Serbia on the Road to EU Membership" is an opportunity to reach agreement with influential people in Europe about several concrete steps important for Serbia’s EU integration.
Author:
Tanjug
During a break at the meeting, taking place in the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Djelic stressed the significance of this conference adding that it is important that Austrian State Secretary of Finance Andreas Schieder announced that Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia will enter the visa liberalisation list this year.
He said the conference will help Serbia to garner stronger support from their European partners in its efforts to change the Netherlands’ stance regarding the implementation of the Transitional Trade Agreement with Serbia.
The reality is that the Netherlands has softened but not altered its stance, therefore it is up to us to present Serbia’s achievements so far directly to the Dutch representatives, Djelic stressed.
He explained that this refers to cooperation with the Hague tribunal, the importance of the implementation of the Transitional Trade Agreement with Serbia, as well as the overall situation in the country, adding that Serbia thus wishes to bring the Netherlands round to reaching a consensus over the implementation of the agreement.
There are no guarantees that we will succeed, but it is up to us to do all we can, Djelic stressed, recalling that there were no guarantees for visa liberalisation either, but the EU did finally reached agreement on it.
He said that the government will draft a new action plan by the end of July to show to their European partners that Serbia continues to work on the laws that it has implemented.
We expect one more EU mission in the autumn to check if we have done everything for the Schengen white list, he said, adding that long-term topics will be discussed in the meeting today.
He said that the forming of a secretariat for transport of Southeast Europe noting that Corridors 10 and 7 can contribute greatly to international transport.
It is Serbian government’s wish that the country’s EU integration brings large investments to Serbia, he said.
Djelic noted that Austria is among biggest investors in Serbia. At the beginning of democratic changes in Serbia, France was a great investment partner and upon President Boris Tadic’s visit to Paris and in the light of upcoming visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, more French investments are expected, he said.
The two-day conference "Serbia on the Road to EU Membership" is being organised by the Austrian-French Centre in cooperation with the European Movement in Serbia and the European Fund for the Balkans.
He said the conference will help Serbia to garner stronger support from their European partners in its efforts to change the Netherlands’ stance regarding the implementation of the Transitional Trade Agreement with Serbia.
The reality is that the Netherlands has softened but not altered its stance, therefore it is up to us to present Serbia’s achievements so far directly to the Dutch representatives, Djelic stressed.
He explained that this refers to cooperation with the Hague tribunal, the importance of the implementation of the Transitional Trade Agreement with Serbia, as well as the overall situation in the country, adding that Serbia thus wishes to bring the Netherlands round to reaching a consensus over the implementation of the agreement.
There are no guarantees that we will succeed, but it is up to us to do all we can, Djelic stressed, recalling that there were no guarantees for visa liberalisation either, but the EU did finally reached agreement on it.
He said that the government will draft a new action plan by the end of July to show to their European partners that Serbia continues to work on the laws that it has implemented.
We expect one more EU mission in the autumn to check if we have done everything for the Schengen white list, he said, adding that long-term topics will be discussed in the meeting today.
He said that the forming of a secretariat for transport of Southeast Europe noting that Corridors 10 and 7 can contribute greatly to international transport.
It is Serbian government’s wish that the country’s EU integration brings large investments to Serbia, he said.
Djelic noted that Austria is among biggest investors in Serbia. At the beginning of democratic changes in Serbia, France was a great investment partner and upon President Boris Tadic’s visit to Paris and in the light of upcoming visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, more French investments are expected, he said.
The two-day conference "Serbia on the Road to EU Membership" is being organised by the Austrian-French Centre in cooperation with the European Movement in Serbia and the European Fund for the Balkans.
-
Belgrade, 24 July 2026Serbia, Hungary partners in addressing regional security challenges
-
Belgrade, 24 July 2026Dačić congratulates UK Home Secretary on reappointment
-
Belgrade, 22 July 2026Serbia follows modern technological achievements, attracts investments
-
Belgrade, 22 July 2026Continued cooperation with Russia in field of security, emergency situations
-
Belgrade, 22 July 2026New opportunities for expanding economic cooperation between Serbia, China
-
Belgrade, 20 July 2026Cooperation in field of interior affairs important segment of relations with Germany
-
Belgrade, 16 July 2026Expo 2027 opportunity to further strengthen international partnerships
-
Belgrade/Bratislava, 16 July 2026Serbia, Slovakia continue to strengthen political, economic cooperation
-
Belgrade, 14 July 2026Serbia bilaterally resolves problems arising from EES implementation
-
Gradina/Kalotina, 9 July 2026Improving border cooperation between Serbia, Bulgaria