Keepin touch

Whether you have a question, comment, suggestion or any problem in the purview of the government, send us your message and we will try to respond as soon as possible. If your problem is not in our purview, we will forward your message to the relevant institution.

The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Signing of SAA opened new phase of relations between Serbia, the EU

Belgrade, 23 December 2009

Minister of Trade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic said today that the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU will bring more investment to Serbia, create new jobs, increase production and improve Serbia's market competitiveness.

Speaking at a press conference, held on the occasion of the presentation of the "Information campaign on obligations and advantages of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement and EU candidacy" project, Milosavljevic said that Serbia will have a free trade regime which will be impossible to suspend and it will have the opportunity to use funds from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).

The Minister said that, after 20 years, Serbian citizens can travel freely to EU countries, which is a big advantage for businessmen as well, because that saves them time and opens business possibilities. According to him, the potentials of Serbia's economy exceed its market, and in many areas they even exceed those of the CEFTA region.

Presenting the brochures “Protecting the Competition”, “Product Safety” and “Consumer Protection”, he said that the relevant ministry and the author of the brochures, Professor Tanja Miscevic from the Faculty of Political Sciences, published the three brochures within the SAA context.

Milosavljevic explained that the goal of the brochures is to provide information to businessmen, scientist, experts and Serbian citizens about the progress made in the harmonisation of regulations with the EU.

Tanja Miscevic

Miscevic said that with the signing of the SAA a new stage in the relations between Serbia and the EU commenced, adding that one of Serbia’s key tasks will be to implement the regulations, and not just adopt them.

Once we are granted candidate status the European Commission will not only be our partner in the talks, but also a strict opponent, with whom we must fight to prove what we want to achieve with the agreement, she explained.

Miscevic recalled that other EU candidates also underwent the same procedure, adding that in Serbia’s case the European Commission will be increasing controls gradually, which will pose a great challenge to everyone in public administration.