Britain "strongly supports Serbia's EU membership"

BELGRADE Serbia wants to improve political dialogue with Britain and is counting on its assistance in ensuring the sustainable existence of the Serb community in Kosovo. This is what Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said during his meeting in Belgrade Speaker of the British House of Lords Baroness Frances D' Souza. Britain "strongly supports Serbia's EU membership" “The Serbian government is committed to implementing all agreements stemming from the Brussels accord. Our goal is to ensure peace, stability and Serbs' existence in the southern province. At the same time, Serbia is carrying out strong reforms and preparations in the EU integration process,” the prime minister said. Dacic noted that Serbia is interested in improving political dialogue with the UK and cooperation on the issues such as security in the region, fight against international terrorism and organized crime. During the meeting, it was noted that there are great prospects for improvement in bilateral economic cooperation, and that Serbia is open to investments from British companies. D'Souza said during a visit to the Serbian parliament earlier on Tuesday that her country "strongly supports Serbia's membership in the European Union and the democratic processes in Serbian society." After a meeting she had with Serbian parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic, D’Souza said that she last visited Belgrade in mid-1990s and today she finds that a huge democratic progress has been made in the country. She said that the House of Lords is ready to offer "unselfish assistance to the Serbian parliament in improving the transparency of its activities and ensuring citizens’ participation in legislative processes." Stefanovic said that D’Souza’s visit is a confirmation of the United Kingdom’s support for Serbia’s European integration and reform processes. Stefanovic said that he and D’Souza discussed the legislative activities that Serbia will be undertaking in the EU accession process and ways to strengthen internal efficiency of the Serbian parliament. They agreed that citizens need to play a more important role in the process of passing laws and adopting political decisions in the country. Stefanovic thanked her for the investments her country made in Serbia over the past few years and expressed the hope that more investment will follow in the future. After the meeting, D’Souza attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Serbian parliament and the British Embassy to Serbia. The British charge d'affaires, David McFarlane, who signed the document on behalf of the UK, expressed his satisfaction about the good cooperation between the two parliaments. He said that it is good that the Lord Speaker is visiting Serbia at the time of the preparations for the start of Serbia’s negotiations with the EU, which the government in London hopes will begin in January. (Tanjug) Tanjug

Britain "strongly supports Serbia's EU membership"

“The Serbian government is committed to implementing all agreements stemming from the Brussels accord. Our goal is to ensure peace, stability and Serbs' existence in the southern province. At the same time, Serbia is carrying out strong reforms and preparations in the EU integration process,” the prime minister said.

Dačić noted that Serbia is interested in improving political dialogue with the UK and cooperation on the issues such as security in the region, fight against international terrorism and organized crime.

During the meeting, it was noted that there are great prospects for improvement in bilateral economic cooperation, and that Serbia is open to investments from British companies.

D'Souza said during a visit to the Serbian parliament earlier on Tuesday that her country "strongly supports Serbia's membership in the European Union and the democratic processes in Serbian society."

After a meeting she had with Serbian parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović, D’Souza said that she last visited Belgrade in mid-1990s and today she finds that a huge democratic progress has been made in the country.

She said that the House of Lords is ready to offer "unselfish assistance to the Serbian parliament in improving the transparency of its activities and ensuring citizens’ participation in legislative processes."

Stefanović said that D’Souza’s visit is a confirmation of the United Kingdom’s support for Serbia’s European integration and reform processes.

Stefanović said that he and D’Souza discussed the legislative activities that Serbia will be undertaking in the EU accession process and ways to strengthen internal efficiency of the Serbian parliament.

They agreed that citizens need to play a more important role in the process of passing laws and adopting political decisions in the country.

Stefanović thanked her for the investments her country made in Serbia over the past few years and expressed the hope that more investment will follow in the future.

After the meeting, D’Souza attended the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Serbian parliament and the British Embassy to Serbia.

The British charge d'affaires, David McFarlane, who signed the document on behalf of the UK, expressed his satisfaction about the good cooperation between the two parliaments.

He said that it is good that the Lord Speaker is visiting Serbia at the time of the preparations for the start of Serbia’s negotiations with the EU, which the government in London hopes will begin in January.