Delegation of Dutch parliamentarians in Belgrade

Problems faced by Serbia as fake asylum seekers attempt to move to EU countries will be on the agenda as a Dutch parliament delegation visits Belgrade. The authorities in Belgrade have received warnings from Brussels that the EU decision to lift the visa regime it had imposed on Serbians could be reexamined. Delegation of Dutch parliamentarians in Belgrade At the same time, Holland is yet to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement signed between Serbia and the EU in the spring of 2008. The Dutch delegation will, according to announcements, learn about Serbia's action on its EU path, and in particular the efforts to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal and arrest Ratko Mladic. The visiting parliamentarians will meet with Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs Chairman Laslo Varga. Varga said ahead of the talks that "there has obviously been some oversight, in other words, we must also change the legislative framework", and expressed his hope that EU member states "will help Serbia solve the fake asylum seekers issue". The Dutch delegation will be in Belgrade ahead of a visit by Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammerz. Serbia's EU integration depends on his appraisal of the country's cooperation with the war crimes court. Varga stated that the parliamentarians will learn about the progress made by Serbia on that issue, and added he expected "some unpleasant questions". "They will certainly ask about the Hague cooperation, but we will attempt not to focus the talks on that subject. Of course, we'll try, and that may be the essence of our effort, to change the image that exists about Serbia in Holland, because we think that image no longer reflects the reality," said he. Previously, the deputy chairman of the Dutch Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs said that if the Brammertz report were negative, the lower house of the Dutch parliament would not include the ratification of Serbia's SAA on its agenda.

Delegation of Dutch parliamentarians in Belgrade

At the same time, Holland is yet to ratify the Stabilization and Association Agreement signed between Serbia and the EU in the spring of 2008.

The Dutch delegation will, according to announcements, learn about Serbia's action on its EU path, and in particular the efforts to cooperate with the Hague Tribunal and arrest Ratko Mladić.

The visiting parliamentarians will meet with Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović and Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs Chairman Laslo Varga.

Varga said ahead of the talks that "there has obviously been some oversight, in other words, we must also change the legislative framework", and expressed his hope that EU member states "will help Serbia solve the fake asylum seekers issue".

The Dutch delegation will be in Belgrade ahead of a visit by Chief Hague Prosecutor Serge Brammerz. Serbia's EU integration depends on his appraisal of the country's cooperation with the war crimes court.

Varga stated that the parliamentarians will learn about the progress made by Serbia on that issue, and added he expected "some unpleasant questions".

"They will certainly ask about the Hague cooperation, but we will attempt not to focus the talks on that subject. Of course, we'll try, and that may be the essence of our effort, to change the image that exists about Serbia in Holland, because we think that image no longer reflects the reality," said he.

Previously, the deputy chairman of the Dutch Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs said that if the Brammertz report were negative, the lower house of the Dutch parliament would not include the ratification of Serbia's SAA on its agenda.