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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Incidents of violence against foreigners will not affect visa liberalisation process

Belgrade, 28 September 2009

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic said today that the recent assaults on foreign citizens in Serbia will not affect the country’s prospects for inclusion in the Schengen white list, but will be mentioned in the European Commission’s annual report on Serbia’s progress regarding EU integration.

In an interview with B92 TV, Djelic said that European Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot is arriving in Belgrade today to verify the report presented by Serbia on fulfilling criteria for inclusion on to the Schengen white list.

He said that at his meeting with Barrot, who will talk with Serbian functionaries about the removal of visa restrictions for Serbian citizens, it will be determined whether all conditions have been fulfilled.

Djelic said that Barrot and his team will verify if the Serbian government is doing everything in its power to locate and apprehend the remaining two Hague indictees.

Djelic said that the report on the fulfilment of criteria for inclusion on to the Schengen white list from January 1, 2010, which Serbia submitted to the European Commission on September 25, will also be verified and assessed by European Commission representatives who will visit Serbia in October.

He said that he hopes that on October 15 the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties will examine a European Commission recommendation for visa liberalisation and that it will then be considered by the European Parliament on November 24.

He said that the European Commission is expected to give its final decision concerning Serbia’s inclusion on to the Schengen white list on November 30 or December 1.

Djelic said that at this point there is no consensus within the EU or the European Commission regarding Serbia’s submission of the application for membership, adding that the issue of the transitional trade agreement will be discussed by the Council of Ministers in October under Swedish EU Presidency.

He said that that will be a new opportunity to make efforts at building a consensus, adding that if this cannot be accomplished in October then another opportunity will arise in December when Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz will present his new report.