EU-CRISIS-ENLARGEMENT

Domestic reforms are crucial for further EU integration

PRAGUE, May 17 (Tanjug) - The European officials agree in the assessment that the reforms carried out in the countries that tend to join the EU will be crucial for their further EU integration and they believe that the debt crisis that hit Greece could affect further EU enlargement.

In an interview for the Radio Free Europe, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fuele stated that he does not believe that any external factors, including the current financial crisis in the EU, can postpone the enlargement process. According to him, domestic reforms are crucial for the pace of the EU integration.

It is obvious that, taking into account the historical burden of the Western Balkan countries, Brussels believes it is necessary that the countries should not only adopt and accept the required standards, but also apply them in practice, Fuele underscored, adding that he does not believe anyone would want to change the rules of the game in respect of further enlargement.

However, the assessment criteria for the progress of the Balkan countries may become stricter, that is the conditions that they need to fulfill, Fuele said.

SERBIA-GREECE-DACIC

Greece strongly supports Serbia's EU integration

ATHENS, May 15 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic stated Saturday, after the meeting with Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas, that Greece strongly supports Serbia's EU integration, as well as the preservation of its territorial integrity and sovereignty regarding Kosovo-Metohija.

Dacic pointed out that, in the economic sphere, Greek companies may be the biggest investors in Serbia, but the trade volume between the two countries is relatively small compared to the level of Greek investments in Serbia.

He stressed that 350,000 Serbian citizens spent their vacations in Greece in 2009, and added that the Greek government may have contributed the most to the abolition of Serbia's visa regime.

ZAGREB-DJELIC-JANDROKOVIC

Jandrokovic: Croatia will give Serbia EU legal translations

ZAGREB, May 14 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic and Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Goran Jandrokovic agreed in Zagreb Friday that partnership relations between Croatia and Serbia are very important for the stability of the entire region of Southeast Europe.

Croatia strongly supports Serbia's EU integration and it is ready to share its knowledge and experience from the pre-accession process, Jandrokovic said.

He pointed out that the Croatian government has already given the translations of the EU legal regulations to the regional countries as a means of technical assisstance, and added that they will be given to Serbia as well.

The ministers stressed that Djelic's visit to Zagreb, the forthcoming meeting of the Serbian and Croatian prime ministers and the talks between the presidents all prove that the relations between the two states have a positive trend.

Jandrokovic said that Croatia is determined to reach a full EU membership, adding that the enlargement of the EU on the principles of individual accession and fulfillment of the set criteria are crucial for achieving long-term stability and security in Southeast Europe and the rest of the continent.

The ministers also discussed the possibilities of improving economic and scientific cooperation, the significance of the Annual Meeting of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development which is being held in Zagreb on May 14-15, as well as bilateral relations, the situation in Southeast Europe and regional cooperation.

ZAGREB-DJELIC-MIMICA

Djelic: Serbia supports Croatia's EU accession in 2012

ZAGREB, May 14 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic stated in Zagreb on Friday that Serbia supports Croatia's accession in the European Union in 2012 as a signal of further enlargement of the Union and an incentive to the regional countries to persist on their EU path.

Djelic said this after his meeting with Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Neven Mimica and president of the national committee for the talks between Croatia and the EU Vesna Pusic, at which it was concluded that the relations between Serbia and Croatia are the key to the stability in the region.

Djelic gave a positive evaluation of a visit by a Croatian parliamentary delegation to the Serbian parliament, scheduled for early June.

"The experience and mechanisms the Croatian parliament established several years ago will be an example for our parliamentarians," said Djelic, adding that the two countries will become stronger partners, which implies the most difficult issues of financial support to Croatia and Serbia, as well as to other Western Balkan countries.

It is important, said Djelic, that the Union countries help the countries in the region to prepare themselves for EU accession and to become competitive instead of becoming a burden to the EU.

"We discussed our orientation towards the EU's financial assistance, which is not so prospective because of the global economic crisis, but we can expect greater European assistance if we make our projects more concrete," said Mimica.

The parliaments in Belgrade and Zagreb are the driving driving force for a better atmosphere in bilateral relations, which is very important for the European concept because the relations between Croatia and Serbia are the key to stability in the region, said Mimica.

"It is equally important to Croatia to complete its process of moving closer to the EU soon as it is to have our neighbors do the same," underscored Mimica.

Djelic is scheduled to meet today with chief negotiator of Croatia and the EU Vladimir Drobnjak and Foreign Minister Gordan Jandrokovic. He will subsequently take part, together with Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic, in a meeting of the region premiers, and will confer with Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor.

ZAGREB-DJELIC-MIMICA

Djelic: Serbia supports Croatia's EU accession in 2012

Djelic gave a positive evaluation of a visit by a Croatian parliamentary delegation to the Serbian parliament, scheduled for early June.

“The experience and mechanisms the Croatian parliament had established several years ago will be an example for our parliamentarians,” said Djelic, adding that the two countries will become stronger partners, which implies the most difficult issues of financial support to Croatia and Serbia, as well as to other Western Balkan countries.

It is important, said Djelic, that the Union countries help the region countries prepare for accession in the EU in order to become competitive instead of becoming a burden to the EU.

“We discussed ways of orientation towards the EU's financial assistance, which is not so prospective at the time of a general economic crisis, but we might expect greater European assistance by making our projects concrete,” said Mimica.

The parliaments in Belgrade and Zagreb are the driving engines of a better atmosphere in bilateral relations, which is very important for the European concept because the relations between Croatia and Serbia are the key to stability in the region, said Mimica.

“It is equally important to Croatia to complete its process of moving closer to the EU soon as it is to have our neighbors do the same,” underscored Mimica.

BRUSSELS-FUELE-BALKANS

Fuele: Pace of EU accession depends on reform speed

BRUSSELS, May 14 (Tanjug - European Union Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele on Friday stated that the current financial crisis in Greece would not have an impact on the pace with which the Western Balkan countries move closer to the EU but that this would depend on the pace of the reforms in those countries.

He, however, did not rule out a possibility of Brussels evaluating more strictly the progress of countries in the former Yugoslav territory in meeting the standards on their way to the EU.

In an interview with Radio Europe, Fuele evaluated that compared to 20 years ago, a huge progress had been made in the Western Balkan countries but that the burden of historic heritage is still being felt.

In regards to Kosovo, there is no agreement on the issue of its status within the EU, but a consensus on its European future is evident, concluded Fuele.

FPN-CYPRUS-AMBASSADOR

Mavromatis on close relations between Serbia and Cyprus

BELGRADE, May 13 (Tanjug) - Cypriot Ambassador to Serbia Homer Mavromatis said Thursday in Belgrade that his government's full support to the Serbian EU integration process and its position on Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence is to a great extent the result of close relations and comprehension between two countries sharing similar past and culture.

Cyprus fully supports Serbia's EU path and hopes the country will soon be granted candidate status, Mavromatis noted at a lecture on Cyprus, which he held at Belgrade's Faculty of Political Sciences (FPN) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Cypriot independence.

Reminding that his country was part of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empire for centuries, until Great Britain seized control of the country in the 19th century, the Cypriot ambassador pointed to the numerous historical, cultural and religious similarities between Serbia and Cyprus.

Our unconditional support to Serbia's European pathway is to a great extent connected to the past, when under Byzantium the two countries shared the same currency, religion and culture, Mavromatis pointed out.

He stressed that Cyprus is one of the five EU member states that did not recognize Kosovo's independence, which Nicosia views as illegal since it represents a violation of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Act and UN Security Council 1244 Resolution and therefore endangers the sovereignty and teritorial integrity of Serbia.

EU-DEGERT-JUDICIARY

EU appreciates Belgrade's efforts to improve judicial system

BELGRADE, May 12 (Tanjug) - Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert has stated that Brussels is pleased with the fact that the Belgrade authorities make efforts to solve the issue of the judicial reform in the early phase of the country's EU integration.

Judicial reform is a structural reform which is not simple, but it is one of the most important reforms for every country. Such reforms cannot be completed overnight. We observe the situation and appreciate the efforts that authorities in Belgrade have made in improving the judicial system, Degert told Tanjug.

When asked about the letter which President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso sent to the Association of Judges of Serbia and the Prosecutors' Association of Serbia regarding the judicial reform, and why the letters were not addressed officially to the state bodies, Deggert said that this is simply because Barroso was answering to letters he received from the associations.

President Barroso received three letters - from the Association of Judges, from the Prosecutors' Association, but also one from the International Association of Judges. He simply answered to those who wrote to him, Degert said, and added that what is important is the contents of the letters.

It is very important for every country which wants to enter the EU to have an efficient and independent judicial system. We want to work on the reform of the judiciary together with the Serbian authorities and to get a guarantee that the independence of the judiciary is in the focus. The reform is in the interest of citizens and investors who are thinking of coming to Serbia and who want to be treated fairly, which is why the EU pays so much attention to it, Degert concluded.

SERBIA-EU-CONFERENCE

Quality, not speed of EU integration is important

BELGRADE, May 11 (Tanjug) - In the process of integration in the European Union, its is not the dates that are essential, but the quality of the necessary reforms to that end, head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert and head of the Serbian government's EU Integration Office Milica Delevic agreed on Tuesday.

The greatest challenge Serbia is facing this year as regards EU integration is maintaining the energy it invested in 2009, Degert said.

In the political sector, the time when the European Commission will give its opinion on Serbia's status regarding the EU membership candidacy, and the start of ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) are crucial, he said.

Addressing a conference on the challenges of Serbia's EU candidacy held in Belgrade Tuesday, Degert said that the EC is ready to focus on Serbia's candidacy as soon as its gets the green light.

As regards the start of SAA ratification, Serbia must maintain a good level of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), and its search for fugitive indictees must be active, efficient and produce results, he said.

Serbia must also work on the rule of law, regional cooperation, good neighborly relations and a good economic agenda, he said.

Delevic said that due to the global recession, the EU does not have the time to pull Western Balkan states into EU integration, and that the speed of that process will therefore depend on the region's countries themselves.

The conference was sponsored by the EU Delegation to Serbia and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

BRUSSELS-DJELIC-BUZEK

Djelic hopes SAA ratification will begin in mid June

BRUSSELS, May 11 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic has requested support from the European officials for the continuation of Serbia's EU integration, and expressed hope that the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) could begin already in June.

Based on the positive report that we expect from the visit of ICTY Prosecutor (Serge) Brammertz, I requested support for launching the SAA ratification process before the EU Council of Ministers in mid-June, Djelic said addressing the World Economic Forum on Europe in Brussels, Deutsche Welle reports.

"At the same time, I have appealed to the EU to form a consensus and give the green light to the European Commission to consider Serbia's request for membership candidacy, submitted in December 2009," Djelic said.

Djelic believes that the latest economic turmoils within the EU and the establishing of a European mechanism for protection of financial stability of the EU member states will affect the conditions for EU accession, which will be more demanding and strict.

According to him, the EU will no longer "tolerate the EU accession of the countries that are not fully prepared," which can also be an opportunity to obtain greater support for Serbia and other Western Balkan countries.

After the meeting with Djelic, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek referred to Serbia's fight against crime, particularly when it comes to the processing of war crimes, stressing that he is familiar with Djelic's position regarding this matter and that the EU expects concrete steps in that direction.

The Serbian citizens's dream of Europe can come true with hard work, Buzek said. Serbia has begun working hard and has already made progress in respect of the cooperation with the EU. The Western Balkans is important for the EU, and Serbia plays the key role in the region, he underscored.

SERBIA-KOSOVO-EU

Ivanovic: Serbia to join EU with constitutional borders

BELGRADE, May 11 (Tanjug) - Serbia will join the EU with the borders defined in its Constitution and before the Kosovo issue is resolved, believes State Secretary with the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija Oliver Ivanovic.

In an interview with Tanjug, Ivanovic pointed out that it is important that Serbia meet all membership requirements.

EU-SERBIA-PROELL

Proell: Austria will stand by Serbia on its way to EU

FRANKFURT, May 11 (Tanjug) - Austrian Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Josef Proell has stated that his country will stand by Serbia on its way to Europe.

“I have told Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic that we are interested in starting talks on Serbia's accession in the European Union. We will be an honest partner in the process. It is clear that there will be numerous problems on the way to Europe and that time is needed, but we will stand by Serbia,” said he.

“We also discussed the crisis, that is how to handle it. We agreed that both states are faced with a big challenge and that we have to reduce both the debt and deficit. Otherwise we will end up in the same situation as Greece,” said Proell in an interview published by the Frankfurt-based Vesti.

Proell said that the Agreement on double taxation evasion sends out a clear signal to Ausria's entrepreneurs that their investments are safer now.

EU-CONFERENCE-JEREMIC

Jeremic: No official information on agreement for Sarajevo

STRASBOURG, May 11 (Tanjug) - Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic stated late on Monday that he had not been informed officially on whether an agreement on a format of participation of the Pristina authorities in the upcoming ministerial conference European Union-Western Balkans, scheduled to be held in Sarajevo in June, had been reached.

“Although we expect a positive outcome of the talks on the format of the Serbian conference, we have yet to be informed officially about a comprehensive solution being reached,” said Jeremic.

Our stand has not changed - Pristina has to be presented in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and in the presence of UNMIK and not as a sovereign state, added Jeremic, who will take part in the 120th meeting of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg today.

Jeremic said that Serbia and Spain, as the main sponsor of the conference, had reached an agreement that he believes will be carried out.

EU-PACKAGE-MARKOVIC

Markovic: EU package to have positive effect on Serbia

BELGRADE, May 10 (Tanjug) - The EUR 750 billion financial package meant to stabilize the euro zone is a timely and clear signal that the EU ministers are determined to regain trust on the market and prevent further spread of the crisis, National Bank of Serbia Vice Governor Bojan Markovic said Monday, adding that the stabilization will have a positive effect on all European countries, including Serbia.

"We expect the adoption of the financial package for euro zone stabilization to stabilize the expectations of investors in all the countries of the region, including Serbia, and to strengthen national currencies compared to the euro," Markovic told Tanjug.

"A temporary sense of uneasiness in investors, caused by the crisis on some European markets, has led to their reduced willingness to take a risk in the region, which resulted in weakening national currencies in almost all of the region's countries," Markovic noted.

EU ministers of finance decided early on Monday to create a special fund for assistance to its members hit by the financial crisis. The EU will provide EUR 500 billion for the fund, while the International Monetary Fund will secure another EUR 250 billion.

SERBIA-TADIC-FINI

Tadic, Fini pleased with bilateral relations

BELGRADE, May 10 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic and President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini noted Monday that bilateral relations are at a very high level, Tadic's press office said.

Tadic thanked Fini for Italy's support to Serbia's integration in the European Union.

During his meetings earlier in the day with Serbian officials, Fini said that the Italian parliament is prepared to be the first to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia.

SERBIA-EU-CONFERENCE

Conference on challenges of Serbia's EU candidacy Tuesday

BELGRADE, May 10 (Tanjug) - The Faculty of Economics, Finance and Administration (FEFA) will mark Europe Day by hosting a conference on the challenges of Serbia's EU candidacy in Belgrade Tuesday .

Head of the Serbian government's EU Integration Office Milica Delevic and Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert will open the conference, FEFA announced.

Domestic and foreign experts will discuss the challenges of Serbia's EU candidacy, including Deputy Spanish Ambassador to Serbia Javier Hergueta Garnica, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development expert Peter Sanfey and President of the Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence Sonja Liht.

The EU Delegation to Serbia and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation are sponsoring the conference.

SERBIA-FINI-CVETKOVIC

Fini: Italy will ratify SAA with Serbia

BELGRADE, May 10 (Tanjug) - President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini said Monday meeting Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic that the Italian parliament is prepared to be the first to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia when the time comes.

Italy's support is important for Serbia's integration in the European Union, he said.

Cvetkovic said that integration in the EU and protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity are Serbia's main foreign policy goals and thanked Italy for its strong support to that end, the Serbian government said.

Fine and Cvetkovic pointed to good bilateral economic cooperation, which will continue to be fostered through Italy's more active participation in regional projects in infrastructure, transport and energy.

SERBIA-EU-FINI

Fini: EU should admit Balkan countries as soon as possible

BELGRADE, May 10 (Tanjug) - President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Gianfranco Fini stated Monday that Serbia is a part of the EU and that the EU should accept the Balkan countries as its members as soon as possible, adding that the Italian parliament is prepared to be the first to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia when the time comes.

After the talks with Serbian parliament speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic, Fini said that Serbia is a part of the EU both geographically and culturally and that it is necessary for the EU to round off its map and include the Balkan countries in it.

According to him, the Italian parliament is ready to be the first parliament of a EU member state to ratify the SAA when the time comes, which is a very important step on Serbia's EU pathway.

Fini said that when Serbia joins the EU, the relations between Belgrade and Rome will become much stronger.

Djukic-Dejanovic said that 131 years of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Italy should be treated as an obligation to intensify all forms of cooperation between the two countries in a political, economic and parliamentary sense.

She thanked Fini, on behalf of all Serbian MPs, on Italy's great support and understanding on Serbia's EU pathway.

Fini will also meet with Serbian President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic.

According to the announcements, the officials will pay particular attention to Serbia's EU integration, regional cooperation and bilateral relations between the two countries.

EUROPE-DAY-EVENTS

Europe Day marked in Belgrade

BELGRADE, May 9 (Tanjug) - Europe Day was marked in Belgrade with a number of events, while the central event took place in the Kalemegdan fortress, where Head of EU Delegation Ambassador Vincent Degert opened a Euro Park, which includes 27 stands presenting the Union member states.

At the opening Ambassador Degert said he hopes Serbia will have a successful European future, expressing his satisfaction over the fact that the 60th anniversary of the EU is being marked together with citizens of Belgrade and Serbia.

Serbian government Office for European Integrations Director Milica Delevic, Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic, Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac, Minister for State Administration and Local Self-Government Milan Markovic, Minister of Tade and Services Slobodan Milosavljevic and numerous residents of Belgrade attended the opening.

Dacic and Sutanovac said that Serbia's accession in the EU is a national and state interest and a rather important priority of the country's foreign policy.

It is only logic that Serbia simultaneously marks Europe Day and Victory Day, because on May 9 fascism was defeated, and on those foundations was created the idea of unity, united Europe, said Dacic.

Minister Sutanovac underscored that Serbia have a very important foreign policy priority and that is to join the European Union, which is why it should celebrate Europe Day together with European countries, citizens and associations, adding that Serbia's contribution to Europe is enormous.

DJELIC-SERBIA-EU

Djelic: EU candidate-state status by mid-2011 is our goal

BELGRADE, May 9 (Tanjug) - Deputy Prime Minister for European Integrations Bozidar Djelic said Sunday that Serbia's goal is to gain the status of an European Union candidate state by mid-2011 and to start negotiations by the end of this cabinet's mandate, that is by mid-2012.

“These are our goals and it is up to us to secure a consensus within the EU,” said Djelic in an interview with Tanjug on the occasion of Victory Day.

He also said that everything is being done to have the EU member states give a green light to the European Commission to discuss Serbia's application.

Although there is no consensus within the EU to forward Serbia's application to the European Commission in June, Serbia has the support of Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini and Spain.

Speaking about the cooperation with the Hague tribunal and European integrations, Djelic recalled the last year's conclusions of the Council of Europe, according to which ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia would start if a report by ICTY Chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz, due in June, is positive.

Saying that there is no reason for Brammertz's report not to be positive, Djelic expressed his expectation that a decision on ratification of the SAA might be made at the EU ministerial meeting scheduled to be held in Luxembourg in mid-June.

SWEDEN-AMBASSADOR-INTERVIEW

Bringeus: I expect SAA ratification in June

BELGRADE, May 8 (Tanjug) - Swedish Ambassador to Serbia Krister Bringeus has expressed his expectation that the process of ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Serbia and the European Union will start in June.

I believe that we will get a signal to start the ratification process in mid this year and I personally believe that it will be in June, Ambassador Bringeus said in an interview with Tanjug.

We are confident that Serbia fully cooperates with the Hague tribunal, the ambassador said, underscoring that Sweden strongly supports the SAA ratification. Of course we want the indictees to be brought to justice, but we believe that the Serbian authorities will do everything in their power, said the ambassador.

Sweden strongly supports Serbia's application for the European Union membership, said Ambassador Bringeus, whose leaving the post soon, adding that the brightest moment of his three-year service in Serbia was when he went to Stockholm with Serbian President Boris Tadic to attend the official submission of Serbia's application for the EU membership.

The candidate status or the Union membership itself are not as important as the process of reforms that Serbia will have to carry out in order to become a member, said the ambassador, adding that the reforms imply establishment of the rule of law, environmental protection and fight against corruption.

Ambassador Bringeus believes that major progress had been made since his arrival in Serbia, because Serbia now has a stable pro-European government and a parliament that adopts laws.

EU-KOSOVO-BRINGEUS

Bringeus: EU has no plan for after ICJ's stand

BELGRADE, May 8 (Tanjug) - Swedish Ambassador to Serbia Krister Bringeus has stated that the European Union still has no special plan of action for after the International court of Justice (ICJ) presents its opinion on the independence of Kosovo and that he is not familiar with possible pressures against Serbia or attempt to alter Resolution 1244.

Bringeus reiterated that recognition of Kosovo is not a prerequisite for Serbia's accession in the EU, adding, however, that Serbia will have to solve the problem of the province before joint the Union.

The fact is that no one will request Serbia to recognize Kosovo, but another fact is that the EU will not accept new member states with unresolved issues with their neighbors," Bringeus told Tanjug, adding that his advice to Serbia would be to solve the question of Kosovo in one way or another, because the EU means partnership and good neighborly relations among the member states.

When asked whether the EU has a specific plan for negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia, or whether pressure is being imposed on Serbia to give up fresh dialogue on the status after the ICJ produces an opinion on Kosovo's independence, Bringeus said that he is not familiar with that.

He also said, however, that the majority of the EU countries, including Sweden, have recognized Kosovo and that this would not be revoked.

Bringeus also said he was not familiar with an alleged intent of Washington to have Serbia agree to an alteration of Resolution 1244, adding that he did not believe there was a plan to do that in order to offer Serbia a speedier accession in the EU, as reported by some Belgrade media.

DANUBE-STRATEGY-CONFERENCE

EUR 20 mil from EU funds for Danube projects

BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - About EUR 20 million will be allocated from the European Union pre-accession funds for the Danube projects in Serbia in 2011, which will be additionally funded from the funds allocated for the cross-border cooperation, Serbian government Office for European Integrations Director Milica Delevic said at an international conference dubbed “Danube - Strongest Link to EU” today.

The adoption of the European Union Danube strategy will start in mid-2010, while its final adoption is expected in early 2011, participants of the conference, which was held at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS), said.

Delevic said that 14 countries are included in the development of the strategy, of which six, including Serbia, are not members of the EU.

PKS President Milos Bugarin said that the Danube River had been identified as the Pan European Transport Corridor VII

and a link among countries of Western, Eastern and Central Europe.

Deputy of the EU Delegation Head to Serbia Adriano Martins underscored the EU's readiness and its commitment to continue the development and promotion of the Danube basin.

Martins underscored that defining the Danube Strategy is an important step forward in the sector integration of the EU countries in the areas of transport, energy supply, tourism, environmental protection and other.

SERBIA-EU-DEGERT

Vincent Degert on Serbia's status in EU

BELGRADE, May 7 (Tanjug) - Head of the European Commission (EC) delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert has stated in Belgrade that in 2011, the EC might give its opinion on Serbia's status regarding the EU membership candidacy.

A lot of important things have been done in the past years, and there is still plenty to do, but this is a process, Degert said in an interview for television B92 on Thursday evening. It is important to continue with the energy, he added.

When asked about the pace of Serbia's EU integration and whether it can be expected in 2014 or 2018, Degert said that it depends on how well the country has prepared.

The EC is ready to work with Serbia at any time, when the Council of Ministers makes that decision. The Council session is in June and I am certain that they will consider the possibility of giving the green light for the Commission to start working with Serbia on the questionnaire. After that, the EC is to give its own opinion, Degert pointed out.

I believe that the administration in Serbia has already started preparing answers to the questions from the questionnaire and that in 2011 the EC may give its opinion, he underscored.

SERBIA-EU-KOSOVO

Tadic: Serbia wants both to join EU and keep Kosovo

POZAREVAC, May 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian President Boris Tadic said Thursday that Serbia definitely wants to become a member of the EU, and that it will never give up on protecting its integrity in Kosovo.

Those are the two key points of Serbia's current and future policy, Tadic said at a ceremony in Pozarevac, marking 180 years of the Serbian Armed Forces' elite Guard unit.

He stressed that Serbia takes care of its people, wherever they may live, and added that it runs a peaceful policy.

Tadic emphasized that both the EU and Kosovo are goals and strategic directions for Serbia's foreign policy, adding that "the participation in any international forums will be in accordance with those principles."

The president noted that it is extremely important for all citizens, institutions and political parties to stand united on those goals.

"We extend an offer of reconciliation to everyone, because today we need unity," said Tadic.

He remarked that Serbia is a key factor in southeastern Europe, stressing that instability in Serbia brings instability in the entire Balkans.

Tadic pointed out that stability in Serbia creates the necessary requirements for the development of southeastern Europe and brings benefits to all people who live in the region.

The president stated that the Serbian military also has its place among all those goals, and not just in the present, but in the future as well, and he expressed the country's willingness to continue investing in the military in spite of all its hardships.

Besides the president, the ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac and Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Miloje Miletic.

TADIC-EU-KOSOVO

Tadic: Serbia wants both to join EU and keep Kosovo

Those are the two key points of Serbia's current and future policy, Tadic said at a ceremony in Pozarevac, marking 180 years of the Serbian Armed Forces' elite Guard unit.

He stressed that Serbia takes care of its people, wherever they may live, and added that it runs a peaceful policy.

REGIONALIZATION-FUNDS-EU

Regionalization to draw more EU funds to Serbia

BELGRADE, May 6 (Tanjug) - Adopting the amendments to the Law on Regional Development, which envisages forming five regions of similar population size, will allow Serbia to attract more EU funds, Director of the Serbian government's EU Integration Office Milica Delevic said Thursday.

Asked if this will provide easier access to EU pre-accession funds at a news conference at the Media Center in Belgrade, she said that the regionalization was not a political request of the EU, whose members include both regionalized and centralized countries.

According to her, regionalization will provide all levels of government with the opportunity to learn how EU processes work and explains this to citizens.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said that the EU realized about 90 percent of the projects it planned to finance in Serbia last year.

He said that regionalization will help the EU direct funds more effectively and that it will identify the poorest regions, which will receive most of the funding.

Amendments to the Law of Regional Development should contribute to balanced regional development and more efficient use of EU pre-accession funds. Regions are categorized as developed - those above the state GDP per capita average - and undeveloped - below the average.

Five regions of similar population size will be formed - Vojvodina, Belgrade, Sumadija and Western Serbia, Southern and Eastern Serbia, and Kosovo-Metohija.

KOSOVO-EULEX-TACI

Taci: EULEX did not give any evidence against Ljimaj

PRISTINA, May 6 (Tanjug) - Kosovo Prime Minister Hasim Taci has said that EULEX's recent search of the Ministry of Transport and Post-Telecommunication represented a lynch of Kosovo institutions, and urged the EU Mission to immediately provide proof that millions of euros of state-owned funds have been misappropriated by Minister Fatmir Ljimaj.

Commenting on EULEX's police operation, Taci told the Radio and Television of Kosovo that although a week had passed from the search, he has still not received any evidence on Ljimaj's possible abuse, and demanded that justice be not prejudged just for the sake of someone's personal or political interests.

Neither I, nor anyone else in the Kosovo institutions have received any explanation whatsoever of what happened. What we only have are the statements by EULEX officials, Taci noted.

He added that the government has dismissed the possibility of Ljimaj's resignation.

Taci said that Head of the International Civilian Office Pieter Feith is the one that is most responsible for the police operation, and qualified the official's statements as prejudged.

KOSOVO-FULE-EXPECTATIONS

Fule: No consensus on Kosovo status, only on its perspective

PRISTINA, May 6 (Tanjug) - EU Commissioner for Enlargement Stefan Fule stated that there is no consensus within the EU regarding the status of Kosovo, but that official Brussels has reached full consensus which guarantees that Kosovo will become a part of the general European perspective for the Western Balkan region.

Prior to his visit to Kosovo on Thursday, Fule said that there is a will to ensure that no Balkan country remains outside the EU.

In an interview for the BBC, Fule said that the EU member states requested from the European Commission at the end of 2009 to make progress in certain areas.

These areas imply the improving of political dialogue with Kosovo representatives, considering the possibility of strengthening trade relations and movement of people, including the possible dialogue on visa abolishment, so that Kosovo would obtain a status that three countries of the Western Balkans already have, he underscored.

Fule will arrive in Pristina late on Thursday. He will meet with Kosovo Prime Minister Hasim Taci, Minister for Integration Besim Becaj and other Kosovo and international representatives.

GERMANY-MEETING-DJELIC

Djelic at European Forum in Germany

BERLIN, May 6 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for European integrations and Minister for Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic will address the European Forum meeting to be held at the German Foreign Ministry in Berlin today.

Top-ranking officials of Germany and the EU - German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble, Federal Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso - will speak at the meeting which will focus on the future of the European Union.

Djelic, who is on a several-day visit to Germany, on Wednesday presented Serbia's achievements and ambitions in the domain of European integrations to the Bundestag European Committee.

GERMANY-DJELIC-VISIT

Djelic presents Serbia's European ambitions to Bundestag

BERLIN, May 5 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic presented Wednesday Serbia's achievements and ambitions in European integration to the German Bundestag's Committee on the Affairs of the European Union.

Djelic told Tanjug that he presented Serbia's accomplishments over the last two years to the German MPs and asked for their support in getting the EU Council of Ministers to start the ratification of the Stabilization and Association Agreement in June.

He added he hoped that the Council will turn over Serbia's EU candidacy bid to the European Commission at the same session or soon after.

Djelic said that he assured his hosts that Serbia is ready to help in the fight against organized crime and to cooperate in the field of infrastructure, science and technology and the investments that German and other European companies can make in Serbia.

Commenting on Kosovo, Djelic said that "even though Germany's official position remains the same," MPs from all political parties raised the issue of a possible final solution, which, Djelic believes, "means considering the interests of Belgrade too."

"In that sense, I am encouraged by the MPs' message - they realize the current situation is unsustainable and additional efforts will be needed. It is certainly in the interest of our country to find a sustainable solution for Kosovo and that is not possible without Belgrade," Djelic concluded.

KOSOVO-EU-VISIT

Stefan Fule to visit Kosovo on Thursday

PRISTINA, May 5 (Tanjug) - EU Commissionaire for Enlargement Stefan Fule will arrive in Kosovo on Thursday, where he will attend the ceremonial opening of the new building of the Ministry of Interior in Pristina, the EU Liaison Office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The construction of the new building was a joint investment of the European Commission and the interim Kosovo government. The project is worth EUR 3.2 million.

The forthcoming visit will be Fule's second visit to Kosovo since he was appointed EU Commissionaire for Enlargement. In March 2010, Fule stated in Pristina that the most important thing in Kosovo is fight against crime and corruption.

KOSOVO-EU-ASYLUMSEEKERS

More than 14,000 people from Kosovo seek asylum in EU

PRISTINA, May 5 (Tanjug) - In 2009 there were around 14,200 asylum applicants from Kosovo, who sought asylum in some of 27 countries of the European Union (EU), the statistical office of the EU Eurostat has published in its report.

According to the report, the applicants from Kosovo make up five percent of the total of 261,000 asylum applicants from all around the world.

Apart from the Kosovo citizens, the most numerous asylum seekers are Afghans (20,400), Russians (20,100), Somalis (19,100) and Iraqis (18,700).

The highest number of applicants were registered in France (47,600) followed by Germany (31,800), the United Kingdom (30,300), Sweden (24,200), Belgium (21,600), Italy (17,500), the Netherlands (16,100), Greece (15,900) and Austria (15,800).

The report states that the in 2009 in the EU27 229,500 first instance decisions were made on asylum applications. There were 166,900 rejections (73 percent of decisions), and the rest were granted refugee status, subsidiary protection or were granted authorisation to stay for humanitarian reasons.

GERMANY-DJELIC-VISIT

Djelic to address German parliament Wednesday

BERLIN, May 5 (Tanjug) - Serbian Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration and Minister of Science and Technological Development Bozidar Djelic, who is paying a visit to Germany, will address the German parliament MPs Wednesday and inform them about Serbia's progress in European integration and its further steps towards the EU.

Djelic will request help from the German parliament on Serbia's EU pathway, and he will convey the message that Serbia's ambition is to be a valuable member of the European family, as a central country of the Western Balkans.

He told Tanjug that he and German officials agreed to strengthen cooperation between Serbia and Germany in the areas of energy, telecommunication and local infrastructure.

SERBIA-EU-DEGERT

Degert: Serbia's significant steps towards EU accession

NIS, May 4 (Tanjug) - Head of EU delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert stated in Nis, a town in southern Serbia, on Tuesday that the country made significant steps on the EU pathway in 2009, adding that there is yet more work to be done for its EU accession.

Degert pointed out that the decision on visa liberalization took effect at the end of last year, adding that Serbia applied for EU membership and that free trade agreement was reached.

I cannot say how long negotiations will last, Degert said in the talks with the students of the University in Nis, organized on the occasion of Europe Day (May 9). On average, negotiations last from three to seven years, he stressed.

Degert said that the EU is now present in Serbia through various types of assistance and cooperation, whereby it is already investing in Serbia's EU membership. He said that the quality of the pre-accession process is very important and that many EU programmes are carried out in the process before formal accession.

Each country that accepts the EU values can be its member, said Degert and encouraged the young people to take initiative.

EU-IPA-DJELIC

Another EUR 170 million from EU

BELGRADE, May 3 (Tanjug) - After the recently signed Financial Agreement on the use of EUR 70 million from the Instrument for President Boris Tadic-Accession Assistance (IPA) of the European Union for the year 2009, Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic will sign in Nis in late May a fresh financial agreement with the European Commission, the Belgrade daily Politika has quoted Ognjen Miric, the Serbian government's coordinator of the EU funds and Djelic advisor.

These will be the funds from the 2010 IPA program, based on which another EUR 170 million will be donated to Serbia for 26 projects, Politika wrote in its on-line issue.

Social and economic development of southern Serbia (Jablanica and Pcinja districts) and southwestern Serbia (Zlatibor, Raska, Morava and Rasina district) will be supported with EUR 15 million from the 2010 package.

Funds will also be used for infrastructural investments in institutions of high education (EUR 25 million) and supervision of works on Corridor 10 (EUR 10 million).

EUR 2.5 million will be used for the fight against financial crime, while EUR 28 million will be used for the construction of the Leskovac-Vranje electrical substation.

"Projects the value of which totals EUR 630 million have been prepared for the 2007-2010 period and the realization of the projects from the IPA program for the 2007-2009 period have been started," said Miric, recalling that Serbia was allowed to redirect EUR 100 million from the 2009 IPA to the country's budget.

BIH-SERBIA-EU

Arnaut: Together towards European Union

BELGRADE, May 2 (Tanjug) - Newly appointed Bosnia-Herzegovina Ambassador to Serbia Borisa Arnaut has evaluated that it is very important that the relations between Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are getting warmer and that it is a “big thing” that the BIH Presidency will visit Belgrade in May.

Arnaut underscored that everything should be done at the political level to accelerate our joint movement towards the European Union.

“We can not join the European Union arguing. Disputes are not good for anyone. When we remove disputes and establish good neighborly relations, it will be easier for both Serbia and Bosnia to get accepted into the EU,” Ambassador Arnaut said in an interview with radio Free Europe.

He underscored that Serbian President Boris Tadic's statement that he would not interfere in Bosnia-Herzegovina's internal affairs and that he supports integral Bosnia-Herzegovina is “strong.”

The ambassador evaluated that the Serbian parliament's Declaration on Srebrenica is also important for the relations between BIH and Serbia and for the history.

EU-KOSOVO-LAJCAK

Lajcak: EU must be prepared for ICJ's stand on Kosovo

NOVI SAD, May 1 (Tanjug) - Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak has said that the European Union must be prepared for an opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, expressing his confidence that the publication of the ICJ's opinion would an opportunity for the EU to act towards the stabilization of the region.

“The EU is an important global player, but we have to prove our potential credibility before all in our courtyard, which is the Western Balkans,” Lajcak said in a statement published by Dnevnik, adding that the EU must be prepared for a decision of the ICJ, that it must not be caught off guard.

According to the Novi Sad daily, Lajcak has developed a plan for resolving the issue of relations between Serbia and Kosovo following the ICJ's opinion, and he plans to present it to the Council of Ministers in Brussels on May 10.

“We need regional dynamics and communication on practical issues, which will make the whole of the Western Balkans make a progress,” said Lajcak.

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