Norway as "important partner for stability of Balkans"

Norway as "important partner for stability of Balkans"

At a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, after her meeting in the Palace of Serbia, Brnabic expressed her gratitude highlighting good relations between Serbia and Norway and announced a closer level of cooperation between the two countries in the future.

We talked about regional stability, as well as the issue of Kosovo-Metohija and the possibilities for compromise in order to normalize relations with Pristina, as well as everything that Serbia does to spread good communication and tolerance with all partners in the Balkans, said the Prime Minister.

She said that the economic cooperation of the two countries is growing, but that it is still modest.

According to her, last year it was a record in the trade exchange of Serbia and Norway with €58.2 million, which is 8% more than in 2016.

There are a number of areas in which we can improve cooperation and I hope that after this visit, there will be a greater interest of Norwegian investors in Serbia, Brnabic said.

She pointed out that Norway is one of the largest bilateral donors of Serbia, which in the last 15 years allocated 216 €million through development assistance, and that this year the amount of this assistance doubled to €6.3 million, with €3.1 million last year.

In particular, the Prime Minister stated that half of this assistance was directed to the economic development of the poorest parts of Serbia.

Norway works with us on projects related to the rule of law, supports the work on media strategy, as well as on the suppression of the gray economy, noted Brnabic.

Solberg assessed that Norway and Serbia have good political partnerships in the political, economic and cultural spheres, and that Norway provides full support to the Serbian government in European integration and all reform efforts.

She assessed that Serbia has a leading role in the field of stability, and that Norway remains committed to issues related to the Western Balkans.

The Prime Minister of Norway pointed out that the Western Balkans still needs greater stabilization, economic development and the rule of law, stressing that her country will strive to promote cooperation in this region.

Solberg said that there is a possibility to improve the economic cooperation of the two countries, pointing out that Serbia is a recognised destination for Norwegian companies, and that it is important to create equal and predictable conditions for foreign investors, such as appropriate tax and organizational conditions.

We need to serve each other as an inspiration, Solberg said.