Jeremić meets with Luxembourg FM

Serbia’s strategic goal is EU membership and this is something she will not give up on, said FM Vuk Jeremic after meeting with his Luxembourg counterpart. Jean Asselborn agreed that there was no alternative to Serbia’s EU membership and voiced his hope that progress would be made in Serbia’s EU integration in the coming months. Jeremic meets with Luxembourg FM He said that Luxembourg supported visa liberalization for Serbian citizens and that he would do his utmost to ensure that the process went according to plan. Asselborn said that the common goal had to be Serbia’s EU membership since the EU was a peace project that needed to offer stability and prosperity to the Western Balkans. “There is no alternative, no other way other than to really do all we can to bring Serbia into the EU,“ said the minister, adding that there could be no stability in the Western Balkans without stability and prosperity in Serbia. Jeremic said that Luxembourg was one of the most ardent, outspoken champions of Serbia’s EU integration, adding that EU membership was “the Serbian government’s central priority“ that would not change. The minister said that Serbia was committed to this, notwithstanding the problems the EU was facing with the enlargement process. He voiced his confidence that the government had the political will to “cooperate 100 percent with the Hague Tribunal,“ reiterating that Serbia had extradited 43 of 46 indictees to the Hague. The two foreign ministers also stressed that the coming months were key for the EU in terms of the Lisbon Treaty ratification process. “The weeks and months that lie before us, we’ve agreed, are of vital importance for the future of both Serbia in Europe, and of Europe itself,“ said Jeremic. The minister said that the decisions that were taken in the coming period would impact on enlargement, stressing that Belgrade had already taken these decisions, and that Serbia would continue its path to EU membership. He added that the situation within the EU would become clearer after October once it was known what kind of institutional framework would exist for further enlargement. Asselborn said that he was sure that the Lisbon Treaty would give the EU a push in the right direction, particularly in terms of the enlargement process. The minister expressed his hope that Serbia would weather the financial crisis with the help of the IMF, the World Bank and the EU. He also highlighted cooperation between Luxembourg and Serbia, including assistance to the Belgrade stock exchange, and the training of banking experts and representatives of the Serbian administration in EU law. Asselborn said that the stock exchange, which he visited today, was very important and that its experience could be passed on to the region, starting in Podgorica. Luxembourg financed a EUR 400,00 project at the stock exchange. Jeremic said that relations between the two countries were “fairly wealthy,“ but there was always room for improvement. He said that it had been agreed to continue cooperation on Serbia’s EU integration, primarily in practical matters, such as visa liberalization. Meanwhile, the Italian embassy in Belgrade has said Jeremic will meet with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in Rome tomorrow to discuss Serbia’s European perspective and the forthcoming meeting of the countries’ leaders. “The main theme of the talks will be preparations for the upcoming bilateral summit. The ministers will also discuss Serbia’s European perspective and regional cooperation,“ the embassy said in a statement. Asselborn, Jeremic (FoNet)

Jeremić meets with Luxembourg FM

He said that Luxembourg supported visa liberalization for Serbian citizens and that he would do his utmost to ensure that the process went according to plan.

Asselborn said that the common goal had to be Serbia’s EU membership since the EU was a peace project that needed to offer stability and prosperity to the Western Balkans.

“There is no alternative, no other way other than to really do all we can to bring Serbia into the EU,“ said the minister, adding that there could be no stability in the Western Balkans without stability and prosperity in Serbia.

Jeremić said that Luxembourg was one of the most ardent, outspoken champions of Serbia’s EU integration, adding that EU membership was “the Serbian government’s central priority“ that would not change.

The minister said that Serbia was committed to this, notwithstanding the problems the EU was facing with the enlargement process.

He voiced his confidence that the government had the political will to “cooperate 100 percent with the Hague Tribunal,“ reiterating that Serbia had extradited 43 of 46 indictees to the Hague.

The two foreign ministers also stressed that the coming months were key for the EU in terms of the Lisbon Treaty ratification process.

“The weeks and months that lie before us, we’ve agreed, are of vital importance for the future of both Serbia in Europe, and of Europe itself,“ said Jeremić.

The minister said that the decisions that were taken in the coming period would impact on enlargement, stressing that Belgrade had already taken these decisions, and that Serbia would continue its path to EU membership.

He added that the situation within the EU would become clearer after October once it was known what kind of institutional framework would exist for further enlargement.

Asselborn said that he was sure that the Lisbon Treaty would give the EU a push in the right direction, particularly in terms of the enlargement process.

The minister expressed his hope that Serbia would weather the financial crisis with the help of the IMF, the World Bank and the EU.

He also highlighted cooperation between Luxembourg and Serbia, including assistance to the Belgrade stock exchange, and the training of banking experts and representatives of the Serbian administration in EU law.

Asselborn said that the stock exchange, which he visited today, was very important and that its experience could be passed on to the region, starting in Podgorica. Luxembourg financed a EUR 400,00 project at the stock exchange.

Jeremić said that relations between the two countries were “fairly wealthy,“ but there was always room for improvement.

He said that it had been agreed to continue cooperation on Serbia’s EU integration, primarily in practical matters, such as visa liberalization.

Meanwhile, the Italian embassy in Belgrade has said Jeremić will meet with Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini in Rome tomorrow to discuss Serbia’s European perspective and the forthcoming meeting of the countries’ leaders.

“The main theme of the talks will be preparations for the upcoming bilateral summit. The ministers will also discuss Serbia’s European perspective and regional cooperation,“ the embassy said in a statement.