Rehn: EU backs Serbia's EU perspective

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn says that Brussels fully supports Serbia’s European future, but that Belgrade must meet the remaining conditions. Rehn visited Belgrade yesterday, where he met with President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. Rehn: EU backs Serbia's EU perspective At the end of his mandate in Brussels, Rehn conveyed the EU’s readiness to scrap visas from January 1, 2010 and supported Serbia’s continued European integration. The commissioner said that the EU would continue to support Serbia economically, but that the speed of integration depended on the Belgrade authorities themselves. “All EU member-states are committed to Serbia’s European future, and that is the European Commission’s ultimate goal, which will be achieved as soon as Serbia meets all the necessary conditions. We signed the interim agreement and a consensus exists among the member-states for it to be applied in full. But, the basic condition remains cooperation with the international court in The Hague. It’s necessary to convince all the member-states that Serbia is fully cooperating with the court,” said Rehn. He is particularly happy about the imminent visa liberalization for Serbian citizens. The commissioner believes that there are no obstacles standing in the way of meeting the remaining conditions from Serbia's road map by the autumn. Nevertheless, the proposal that visa privileges will not apply to Serbian citizens registered as living in Kosovo still stands. “Kosovo has a European future as part of the Western Balkan region. At the summit of EU leaders, the Council of Ministers asked the EC to work on this European future, including on Kosovo’s political and economic development. In the autumn, we’ll present a study on how best to foster Kosovo’s European future, including through economic and trade relations, direct inter-personal contact, between people, and other important aspects,” said Rehn. After talks with the commissioner, President Tadic reiterated that the key strategic goal of Serbia’s foreign policy was continued EU integration. In that context, he underlined the importance of visa liberalization for Serbian citizens, as well as his regret that it would not be running parallel with Kosovo. “Kosovo is under resolution 1244 and is in the jurisdiction of the international community, not the Serbian police or administration. Negotiations and talks are being led between the EU and Serbia with representatives of the institutions in Belgrade, but it was not possible to hold them with UNMIK and EULEX representatives,” said the president. Wishing to express their thanks to Rehn for the help he has offered to Serbia on its path to European integration, Serbian officials presented him with a copy of a new Serbian biometric passport. Previously, the commissioner met with PM Cvetkovic. The meeting was also attended by Ministers Ivica Dacic, Bozidar Djelic, Vuk Jeremic and European Integration Office Director Milica Delevic and Justice Secretary Slobodan Homen. Olli Rehn (Beta)

Rehn: EU backs Serbia's EU perspective

At the end of his mandate in Brussels, Rehn conveyed the EU’s readiness to scrap visas from January 1, 2010 and supported Serbia’s continued European integration.

The commissioner said that the EU would continue to support Serbia economically, but that the speed of integration depended on the Belgrade authorities themselves.

“All EU member-states are committed to Serbia’s European future, and that is the European Commission’s ultimate goal, which will be achieved as soon as Serbia meets all the necessary conditions. We signed the interim agreement and a consensus exists among the member-states for it to be applied in full. But, the basic condition remains cooperation with the international court in The Hague. It’s necessary to convince all the member-states that Serbia is fully cooperating with the court,” said Rehn.

He is particularly happy about the imminent visa liberalization for Serbian citizens.

The commissioner believes that there are no obstacles standing in the way of meeting the remaining conditions from Serbia's road map by the autumn. Nevertheless, the proposal that visa privileges will not apply to Serbian citizens registered as living in Kosovo still stands.

“Kosovo has a European future as part of the Western Balkan region. At the summit of EU leaders, the Council of Ministers asked the EC to work on this European future, including on Kosovo’s political and economic development. In the autumn, we’ll present a study on how best to foster Kosovo’s European future, including through economic and trade relations, direct inter-personal contact, between people, and other important aspects,” said Rehn.

After talks with the commissioner, President Tadić reiterated that the key strategic goal of Serbia’s foreign policy was continued EU integration.

In that context, he underlined the importance of visa liberalization for Serbian citizens, as well as his regret that it would not be running parallel with Kosovo.

“Kosovo is under resolution 1244 and is in the jurisdiction of the international community, not the Serbian police or administration. Negotiations and talks are being led between the EU and Serbia with representatives of the institutions in Belgrade, but it was not possible to hold them with UNMIK and EULEX representatives,” said the president.

Wishing to express their thanks to Rehn for the help he has offered to Serbia on its path to European integration, Serbian officials presented him with a copy of a new Serbian biometric passport.

Previously, the commissioner met with PM Cvetković. The meeting was also attended by Ministers Ivica Dačić, Božidar Đelić, Vuk Jeremić and European Integration Office Director Milica Delević and Justice Secretary Slobodan Homen.