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A:
Austria important partner to Serbia’s EU integration
Belgrade/Vienna,
16 September 2009
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic said today after talks with Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger that Austria is one of Serbia’s most important partners regarding Serbia’s EU integration process.
Bozidar Djelic, left, and Michael Spindelegger
Author:
Tanjug
Speaking to the press in Vienna, Djelic said that he has received assurances from Spindelegger that Austria will try to unfreeze the transitional trade agreement between Serbia and the EU at a session of the EU Council of Ministers in October.
He said that it is the opinion of the Serbian government’s EU Integration Office that Serbia should submit its application for candidate status as soon as possible, even as early as the end of this year. Serbia is an important South Eastern European country, which obliges it to work on European integration constantly with the support of its European partners, said Djelic, reiterating that Serbia is strongly supported by many European countries. He said that he is convinced that these countries will continue supporting Serbia, so that Serbia can acquire candidate status as soon as possible. He said that in this context today’s meeting has greatly strengthened the partnership between Austria and Serbia, adding that with the support of Austria and other countries the transitional trade agreement will soon be unfrozen and that Serbia will move towards acquiring candidate status.
Djelic said that the EU’s “Danubian strategy” will be very important for tourism, ecology and transport and noted that Austria’s support is welcome.
Spindelegger said that Austria supports Serbia’s EU road as well as the unfreezing of the Transitional Trade Agreement.
He added that if efforts for the unfreezing of this agreement fail in October, the next chance will be in December.
Spindelegger also expressed his support to the visa liberalisation for Serbian citizens that should come into force in early 2010.
He said that it is the opinion of the Serbian government’s EU Integration Office that Serbia should submit its application for candidate status as soon as possible, even as early as the end of this year. Serbia is an important South Eastern European country, which obliges it to work on European integration constantly with the support of its European partners, said Djelic, reiterating that Serbia is strongly supported by many European countries. He said that he is convinced that these countries will continue supporting Serbia, so that Serbia can acquire candidate status as soon as possible. He said that in this context today’s meeting has greatly strengthened the partnership between Austria and Serbia, adding that with the support of Austria and other countries the transitional trade agreement will soon be unfrozen and that Serbia will move towards acquiring candidate status.
Djelic said that the EU’s “Danubian strategy” will be very important for tourism, ecology and transport and noted that Austria’s support is welcome.
Spindelegger said that Austria supports Serbia’s EU road as well as the unfreezing of the Transitional Trade Agreement.
He added that if efforts for the unfreezing of this agreement fail in October, the next chance will be in December.
Spindelegger also expressed his support to the visa liberalisation for Serbian citizens that should come into force in early 2010.
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