Serbia's EU integration council meets

The government's Council for European Integrations met in Belgrade on Friday. The council's first session this year, presided over by PM Mirko Cvetkovic, called on the EU to accept Serbia's efforts in implementing the Interim Agreement when it decides on the country's future membership application. Serbia's EU integration council meets The council welcomed the government's efforts to meet the criteria for the visa liberalization with the EU and urged full implementation of adopted measures so that visas are canceled as soon as possible, said reports. President Boris Tadic spoke at the beginning of the meeting yesterday, to appraise that "great progress was made in the past year when it comes to EU integration premises". Despite his optimism over the progress made, he said it was time for the EU to show interest in Serbia because of the good results, rather than because of the constant problems faced. He said that no guesses should be made regarding deadlines, but that endeavors must be exerted to adapt the state and society to contemporary European standards. "Serbia can become a country that EU cannot do without only if it remains a factor of peace and stability and a key factor in fighting regional organized crime, and if it becomes an energy and transport nexus and economic lifeline in Western Balkans," Tadic added, and said this was the task ahead of the government "in the next three years". The council called on the government to continue and in line with its ability accelerate adoption and implementation of those laws important for Serbia's EU integration, and to appraise the right time for the country to submit its membership application. At the same time, the council said it expected the EU to, despite the challenges it faces, remain committed to the principles of its enlargement policy which state that progress in fulfilling the criteria brings with it progress toward EU membership.

Serbia's EU integration council meets

The council welcomed the government's efforts to meet the criteria for the visa liberalization with the EU and urged full implementation of adopted measures so that visas are canceled as soon as possible, said reports.

President Boris Tadić spoke at the beginning of the meeting yesterday, to appraise that "great progress was made in the past year when it comes to EU integration premises".

Despite his optimism over the progress made, he said it was time for the EU to show interest in Serbia because of the good results, rather than because of the constant problems faced.

He said that no guesses should be made regarding deadlines, but that endeavors must be exerted to adapt the state and society to contemporary European standards.

"Serbia can become a country that EU cannot do without only if it remains a factor of peace and stability and a key factor in fighting regional organized crime, and if it becomes an energy and transport nexus and economic lifeline in Western Balkans," Tadić added, and said this was the task ahead of the government "in the next three years".

The council called on the government to continue and in line with its ability accelerate adoption and implementation of those laws important for Serbia's EU integration, and to appraise the right time for the country to submit its membership application.

At the same time, the council said it expected the EU to, despite the challenges it faces, remain committed to the principles of its enlargement policy which state that progress in fulfilling the criteria brings with it progress toward EU membership.