EC official "impressed" by Serbian reforms

BELGRADE Pierre Mirel stated in Belgrade on Wednesday that the Serbian government managed to continue or launch a number of reforms within a short period of time. In that way, the director for Western Balkans of the European Commission's Enlargement General Directorate noted, it demonstrated firm commitment to countering corruption. EC official "impressed" by Serbian reforms Mirel told reporters that he was impressed by the number of reforms which are being implemented or prepared, as well as strategies and action plans and other documents, adding that he is impressed by the openness for discussion concerning all open issues and the determination for difficulties not to be concealed and for technical advice to be obtained instead, as well as a reform strategy would rest on strong bases so that it could be adopted in the parliament. Mirel was in Belgrade on Tuesday and Wednesday within the advanced dialogue between representatives of the government and the European Commission so as to discuss the progress Serbia made in the fulfilment of the criteria for EU accession. During the meetings, officials discussed the areas which the European Council listed as essential in terms of reforms in its recommendations released in December, such as the judiciary, fight against corruption and crime, protection of human and minority rights. In addition to the political elan, it is now important to make some systemic changes through strategies or new laws, Mirel said and added that the Commission's delegation called for comprehensive talks with representatives of all sectors, from the media to agriculture. According to Mirel, the talks on trade on Wednesday ended with the conclusion that the interim trade agreement is being implemented without difficulties, while the foreign exchange increased impressively. Mirel said that Serbia's trade surplus in exchange of agricultural products with the EU increased from EUR 200 million to EUR 500 million in the period between 2009 and 2011. This shows that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement is far from harmful and that instead, it helps and contributes to the development of agriculture, he noted. Mirel expressed the belief that once launched, the accession talks with the EU would provide a major encouragement to investments, especially direct foreign investments, as was the case in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic. Tanjug

EC official "impressed" by Serbian reforms

Mirel told reporters that he was impressed by the number of reforms which are being implemented or prepared, as well as strategies and action plans and other documents, adding that he is impressed by the openness for discussion concerning all open issues and the determination for difficulties not to be concealed and for technical advice to be obtained instead, as well as a reform strategy would rest on strong bases so that it could be adopted in the parliament.

Mirel was in Belgrade on Tuesday and Wednesday within the advanced dialogue between representatives of the government and the European Commission so as to discuss the progress Serbia made in the fulfilment of the criteria for EU accession.

During the meetings, officials discussed the areas which the European Council listed as essential in terms of reforms in its recommendations released in December, such as the judiciary, fight against corruption and crime, protection of human and minority rights.

In addition to the political elan, it is now important to make some systemic changes through strategies or new laws, Mirel said and added that the Commission's delegation called for comprehensive talks with representatives of all sectors, from the media to agriculture.

According to Mirel, the talks on trade on Wednesday ended with the conclusion that the interim trade agreement is being implemented without difficulties, while the foreign exchange increased impressively.

Mirel said that Serbia's trade surplus in exchange of agricultural products with the EU increased from EUR 200 million to EUR 500 million in the period between 2009 and 2011. This shows that the Stabilisation and Association Agreement is far from harmful and that instead, it helps and contributes to the development of agriculture, he noted.

Mirel expressed the belief that once launched, the accession talks with the EU would provide a major encouragement to investments, especially direct foreign investments, as was the case in Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.