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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Removal of visa restrictions of great importance for Serbia’s EU integration

Belgrade/Brussels, 30 November 2009

Serbian President Boris Tadic said today in Brussels that the removal of visa restrictions by the EU is an important moment in Serbia’s EU integration process and for the Serbian people, who will be able to travel to EU countries without visas from December 19.

Boris Tadic, left, and Jacques Barrot

Author: Fonet

Speaking in Brussels at a joint press conference with European Commission Vice President Jacques Barrot and Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Tadic said that the pledge given by the EU to the Serbian people a few years ago has been fulfilled.

He said that he hopes that visa restrictions will also be removed soon for Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, stressing that Serbia is a cornerstone for regional politics and wishes for the entire region to be integrated into the EU.

This is not a gift, rather the result of the Serbian government’s hard work and efforts, said Tadic, adding that he is accompanied in Brussels by Interior Minister Ivica Dacic and Justice Minister Snezana Malovic.

The President thanked Dacic, Malovic, Director of the Serbian government’s EU Integration Office Milica Delevic, Deputy Prime Minister for EU integration Bozidar Djelic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic for the work they did.

Tadic expressed gratitude to Barrot and Rehn and also to former EU Commissioner for Security Franco Frattini for the support and help they provided to Serbia.

Barrot congratulated Tadic on the fact that Serbia has carried out the necessary reforms and fulfilled the conditions for visa liberalisation. He said that he is happy because young people from Serbia will be able to travel to the EU without visas.

Rehn said that this is a great day for the citizens of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro and an important step towards European integration.

I remember when I talked with President Tadic, exactly five years ago, in November 2004, about peace and stability in the western Balkans and the process of visa liberalisation. Here we are, five years later. We achieved that goal and I am sure that new positive steps on Serbia's road to Europe will come soon, Rehn said.

At the press conference he showed a plaque that he received from the EXIT festival, with which he was proclaimed an honorary citizen of the State of EXIT.

I remember good food and amateur football and that is what guided me in my work on the abolishment of visas for Serbian citizens, the European Enlargement Commissioner concluded.