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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

European Commission’s proposal key step towards white Schengen

Belgrade, 15 July 2009

Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Bozidar Djelic today stated that the European Commission’s proposal on abolishing visas for Serbian citizens from January 1 2010 is a decisive step towards the white Schengen.

Bozidar Djelic

Author: Tanjug

At the promotion of the fifth issue of “EU Integration Challenges” magazine Djelic said that the burden of visas has fallen from the backs of Serbian citizens, but added that there are still reforms to be carried out for the country to be safe and because the next step after entering the Schengen regime is EU accession.

Djelic noted that this extremely important and decisive step towards the white Schengen was made yesterday, the day of celebrating the French national holiday, July 14.

Today we will receive a document from the European Commission in which the technical elements will be presented, based on which Serbia’s further development is expected, said Djelic, specifying that they include proper implementation of the Law on foreign residents, adoption of the national strategy on managing migration and an action plan for implementing the strategy against organised crime, money laundering and financing terrorism.

The Minister said that an operating agreement with EULEX is expected to be signed, which proves that the technical elements are in line with the Serbian state policy concerning the status of Kosovo.

The fact that Resolution 1244 has been mentioned in the European Commission’s visa liberalisation proposal proves that this institution highly respects international law, said Djelic, adding that it is clear the rumours that Serbia’s inclusion in the Schengen ‘white list’ may hamper its state policy concerning Kosovo-Metohija are not true.

This issue of the magazine will cover topics including the judiciary, interior affairs and visa liberalisation.

The magazine is being published by the Official Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, with the help of the German Organisation for Technical Cooperation (GTZ).

President of the Serbian parliament’s EU Integration Committee Laslo Varga, head of the inter-resource working group for visa liberalisation at the Ministry of the Interior Drazen Maravic and the magazine editor in chief Nikola Jovanovic also addressed those present.