Govt. shuns G17 trade deal idea

The government met in Belgrade on Thursday, but did not consider a motion concerning the frozen trade deal with the EU. Earlier, G17 Plus announced that they will seek a debate in the cabinet on their initiative to start unilaterally applying the Interim Trade Agreement. Govt. shuns G17 trade deal idea This deal, a part of the SAA, remained suspended after an EU foreign minister's meeting in Brussels on Monday. Serbia and the EU signed the SAA in late April, but the accession arrangement was immediately frozen pending Belgrade's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Today, the G17 Plus move was not even on the agenda, a statement from the government said. The government received no formal request to include this item to the debate, it further explained. Instead, Deputy PM Mladjan Dinkic – who is also G17 Plus leader – informed the ministers and the premier about the initiative "verbally". Dinkic's party said after the session on Thursday that it will prepare a formal proposition as the government meets again next week, and said a unilateral application of the trade deal is "in Serbian citizens' best interest". Earlier today, G17 Plus said they believed that the implementation of the deal would further speed up Serbia’s EU integration, because creating a free market is one of the conditions for membership. "Serbian citizens and companies will feel immediate benefits, as it will create increased competition in the market, meaning that citizens will pay less for goods and services from EU member-states," read a party statement. "Fresh humiliation" But the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) Economic Council President Nenad Popovic slammed the idea, also urged by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, as "fresh humiliation of the government of Serbia and another proof of the treatment it receives from the EU". A unilateral implementation of the temporary trade deal would directly jeopardize the survival of Serbia's economy, leaving it unprotected in front of the sharpest competition from abroad, he said in a statement in Belgrade on Thursday. " Serbia's economy would face collapse, thousands would lose their jobs," Popovic warned, and pointed out that a decrease of prices of imported goods would cause a surge in the country's trade deficit, which is already one of the most serious problems faced by the economy.

Govt. shuns G17 trade deal idea

This deal, a part of the SAA, remained suspended after an EU foreign minister's meeting in Brussels on Monday. Serbia and the EU signed the SAA in late April, but the accession arrangement was immediately frozen pending Belgrade's full cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

Today, the G17 Plus move was not even on the agenda, a statement from the government said. The government received no formal request to include this item to the debate, it further explained.

Instead, Deputy PM Mlađan Dinkić – who is also G17 Plus leader – informed the ministers and the premier about the initiative "verbally".

Dinkić's party said after the session on Thursday that it will prepare a formal proposition as the government meets again next week, and said a unilateral application of the trade deal is "in Serbian citizens' best interest".

Earlier today, G17 Plus said they believed that the implementation of the deal would further speed up Serbia’s EU integration, because creating a free market is one of the conditions for membership.

"Serbian citizens and companies will feel immediate benefits, as it will create increased competition in the market, meaning that citizens will pay less for goods and services from EU member-states," read a party statement.

"Fresh humiliation"

But the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) Economic Council President Nenad Popović slammed the idea, also urged by EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, as "fresh humiliation of the government of Serbia and another proof of the treatment it receives from the EU".

A unilateral implementation of the temporary trade deal would directly jeopardize the survival of Serbia's economy, leaving it unprotected in front of the sharpest competition from abroad, he said in a statement in Belgrade on Thursday.

" Serbia's economy would face collapse, thousands would lose their jobs," Popović warned, and pointed out that a decrease of prices of imported goods would cause a surge in the country's trade deficit, which is already one of the most serious problems faced by the economy.