Dačić meets with EC commissioners in Brussels

BRUSSELS EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn said on Tuesday after a meeting with PM Ivica Dacic that he accepted the invitation to visit Serbia. He plans to discuss regional projects with Serbian officials. Dacic meets with EC commissioners in Brussels "I am very impressed by Prime Minister Dacic's approach to regional development and his knowledge of the matter," Hahn said after talking with Dacic at the European Commission headquarters. Hahn said that during the meeting they discussed how to earmark a part of the pre-accession and structural funds for Serbia, which amount to around EUR 200 million on an annual level, for development of regions in the country. Dacic said that the issue of regional development is “an uncharted area” which is often unnecessarily politicized in Serbia. “In general, it is thought that territorial integrity is being undermined through regionalization, and that every region could be a basis for some new secession and future state,” Dacic said, adding that is the reason why considerable funds that the EU invests in regional development are being neglected. The prime minister underlined the importance of harmonious regional development for narrowing large gaps between certain regions and municipalities in terms of development. “We have many projects, ranging from regional cooperation to the Danube strategy,” Dacic said, announcing that preparations are underway for a conference that would bring together ministers of regional development from the entire region. Later in the day, Dacic will also meet EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger and Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas. The Serbian prime minister traveled to Brussels late on Sunday to take part in the Kosovo dialogue the following day. On Sunday evening, Dacic conferred with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

Dačić meets with EC commissioners in Brussels

"I am very impressed by Prime Minister Dačić's approach to regional development and his knowledge of the matter," Hahn said after talking with Dačić at the European Commission headquarters.

Hahn said that during the meeting they discussed how to earmark a part of the pre-accession and structural funds for Serbia, which amount to around EUR 200 million on an annual level, for development of regions in the country.

Dačić said that the issue of regional development is “an uncharted area” which is often unnecessarily politicized in Serbia.

“In general, it is thought that territorial integrity is being undermined through regionalization, and that every region could be a basis for some new secession and future state,” Dačić said, adding that is the reason why considerable funds that the EU invests in regional development are being neglected.

The prime minister underlined the importance of harmonious regional development for narrowing large gaps between certain regions and municipalities in terms of development.

“We have many projects, ranging from regional cooperation to the Danube strategy,” Dačić said, announcing that preparations are underway for a conference that would bring together ministers of regional development from the entire region.

Later in the day, Dačić will also meet EU Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger and Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas.

The Serbian prime minister traveled to Brussels late on Sunday to take part in the Kosovo dialogue the following day.

On Sunday evening, Dačić conferred with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker.