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Spain, Italy to ratify SAA soon

Belgrade, 1 July 2010

Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Bozidar Djelic stated that according to the information he obtained, it appears that Spain and Italy will ratify the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) within the next few weeks.

Author: www.novosti.rs

In an interview for today’s edition of the Vecernje Novosti daily, Djelic said that the foreign minister of Belgium, the country taking over the EU’s rotating presidency today, stated last week that Serbia’s EU candidacy will most likely be contemplated in September.

I believe this will come about during Belgium’s presidency, before the end of the year, and it is up to us to do whatever we can to make sure it occurs even sooner, the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

He reiterated that it is the EU’s official policy that Serbia’s EU integration and the resolution of Kosovo-Metohija’s status are two separate processes.

We have made it clear that EU accession is in Serbia’s interest, but also that we will not do that at any cost, most certainly not at the cost of a portion of our territory, Djelic underscored, adding that EU members are not unanimous about the issue of the province’s status.

Serbia wants the advisory opinion about the Kosovo issue, which the International Court of Justice will declare, to be an occasion for launching talks between Belgrade and Pristina with the aim of achieving a compromise, Djelic explained.

State officials from countries that have recognised Kosovo have been inquiring informally about a possible solution acceptable to Belgrade, Djelic highlighted adding that Serbia must continue with its balanced politics.

Asked whether Serbia would agree to a division of the province and under what circumstances, Djelic replied that this possibility is not being contemplated at all.

He also remarked that the Danube Strategy is a project of state interest for Serbia, which will help it overcome the crisis, adding that through the Strategy, Serbia will attract European funds, non-commercial loans and also direct domestic investment into infrastructure development, as well as improvement of the surroundings and tourism promotion.

Djelic explained that this is why he will try to gain a key position for Serbia between Vienna and Konstanz at the round of talks with the European Commission scheduled for 22 July.

Serbia has already earmarked €20 million from the EU’s one-off aid for the preparation and implementation of projects on the Danube. Participation in the Danube Strategy will help Serbia to step up its EU integration process, he observed.

Thanks to this key European project, our partners in Brussels were able to see that Serbia is a natural and indispensable part of Europe and that without it Europe is incomplete, the Deputy Prime Minister concluded.