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Serbia expects positive decision from Brussels on date for start of negotiations
Belgrade,
18 June 2013
Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said tonight after talks with Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino that Serbia expects a positive decision of the Council of the European Union on 28 June on a date for starting membership talks with the European Union.
Dacic said at a joint press conference with Bonino that Serbia has made moves and encouraged its partners to support the European road and explained that these encouraging moves include the signing of the agreement on normalisation of relations with Kosovo, as well as its implementation.
He pointed out that the Lithuanian Parliament today ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia and that Lithuania was the only country that had not ratified the agreement.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy for encouraging Serbia on its European path, adding that Italy and Serbia have excellent bilateral relations.
Dacic recalled that Serbia and Italy established the practice of holding annual summits of their governments, he said and added that the next meeting should be held in autumn, most likely in Italy.
He expressed his hope that the development of political and economic relations between the two countries will continue and that cooperation will be also made in the field of defence, culture and all other areas where there are traditional ties.
Italy is a country that last year was the third trade partner of Serbia, after Germany and Russia, and in the past four months, it has come to the first place, Dacic said, adding that last year, foreign trade was €2.4 billion, and that in the first four months of this year it amounted to €1.4 billion.
Dacic said that this is a positive result of the commencement of production and sales of Fiat cars, adding that many other Italian companies, such as Benetton, Geox, banks and insurance companies are operating in Serbia.
The Prime Minister said that the recently signed agreement on cooperation in the energy sector is soon expected to be realised, the value of which amounts to approximately €1 billion.
Bonino praised Belgrade's determination to sign the agreement with Pristina in Brussels on 19 April and gave encouragement to pursue the implementation of the document.
She pointed out that Italy appreciates the efforts of Serbia which led to the signing of the Brussels agreement and will try to have the EU Council decide in favour of the date of the negotiations.
The Minister said that the bilateral relations between Italy and Serbia, although excellent, can be improved, in the cultural sphere as well as in the field of environmental protection.
Bonino previously met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Mrkic.
He pointed out that the Lithuanian Parliament today ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia and that Lithuania was the only country that had not ratified the agreement.
The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy for encouraging Serbia on its European path, adding that Italy and Serbia have excellent bilateral relations.
Dacic recalled that Serbia and Italy established the practice of holding annual summits of their governments, he said and added that the next meeting should be held in autumn, most likely in Italy.
He expressed his hope that the development of political and economic relations between the two countries will continue and that cooperation will be also made in the field of defence, culture and all other areas where there are traditional ties.
Italy is a country that last year was the third trade partner of Serbia, after Germany and Russia, and in the past four months, it has come to the first place, Dacic said, adding that last year, foreign trade was €2.4 billion, and that in the first four months of this year it amounted to €1.4 billion.
Dacic said that this is a positive result of the commencement of production and sales of Fiat cars, adding that many other Italian companies, such as Benetton, Geox, banks and insurance companies are operating in Serbia.
The Prime Minister said that the recently signed agreement on cooperation in the energy sector is soon expected to be realised, the value of which amounts to approximately €1 billion.
Bonino praised Belgrade's determination to sign the agreement with Pristina in Brussels on 19 April and gave encouragement to pursue the implementation of the document.
She pointed out that Italy appreciates the efforts of Serbia which led to the signing of the Brussels agreement and will try to have the EU Council decide in favour of the date of the negotiations.
The Minister said that the bilateral relations between Italy and Serbia, although excellent, can be improved, in the cultural sphere as well as in the field of environmental protection.
Bonino previously met with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Mrkic.
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