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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Serbia to submit report on fulfilling conditions for visa abolishment

Belgrade, 25 September 2009

Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic stated that the government will today send its report to the European Commission which shows that Serbia has fulfilled all the terms for abolishing visas for EU countries.

Author: Tanjug

Opening the national round table discussion ‘Towards the Schengen White List’ Djelic stressed that visa liberalisation will secure one of the four key European freedoms – freedom of movement – to Serbian citizens.

The Deputy Prime Minister voiced his expectation that on October 15 the European Parliament’s Commission for Civil Liberties will discuss the European Commission’s visa liberalisation proposal.

He said that the proposal will then be discussed by European Parliament on November 24, while the final decision as to Serbia’s inclusion in the Schengen white list will be made on November 30 or December 1, 2009.

Serbia is a step away from visa liberalisation, Djelic said adding that a great deal of work has been completed and all conditions from the road map fulfilled.

Djelic said that the validity of old passports has been extended for another year, but noted that in this case visas will still be required for travelling abroad.

As for our application for EU membership, Serbia could do that tomorrow, but without a consensus in the EU, the act itself would not have any effect.

Head of the political department of the European Commission delegation to Serbia Thomas Nyoki voiced his hope that the European Commission’s delegation on visa liberalisation will be a positive one, as well as the report Serbia is submitting today.

Nyoki commended all who are taking part in Serbia’s process to join the EU and enter the Schengen white list, noting that they have done a great job so far.

Visa liberalisation is a huge step towards EU integration and very important for EU entry, Nyoki stressed adding however that there is more work to be done.

The round table discussion, organised by Group 484, will comprise three panel discussions will be held on specific details of the roadmap for visa liberalisation, such as document safety and protection of personal data, fight against organised crime and corruption and the role of the readmission agreement, migration control and asylum policy.