"Portugal supports Serbian EU bid"

Portugal supports Serbia's EU bid, while the EU would make a mistake not to take into account the reforms the country has carried out, says the Portuguese FM. Paulo Portas, who is visiting Serbia as a guest of honor at the MFA annual Ambassadors' Conference, met on Sunday with his Serbian counterpart Vuk Jeremic. "Portugal supports Serbian EU bid" "Some states have their doubts, but we do not. If it were up to us only, the European Commission's conclusions would have solved this issue back in December," he said of the postponed decision on Serbia's application to become a candidate for EU membership. Portas told a join news conference held with Jeremic that Portugal also supported Serbia's bid to take over the OSCE presidency for 2014 and 2015. "The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina should continue, while Portugal counts on Belgrade to maintain stability on the ground and not support initiatives to put up barricades in northern Kosovo," said he. Jeremic noted in his address to reporters that to date, there had been no consensus among EU members on Serbia's integrations, and underlined that the Serbian government would not give up on its strategic orientation - continued reforms that should bring the country in line with European standards. The two foreign ministers also discussed economic issues, and agreed that it was necessary to finalize talks on abolishment of double taxing between Serbia and Portugal. Jeremic and Portas meet in Belgrade (Tanjug) B92 Beta

"Portugal supports Serbian EU bid"

"Some states have their doubts, but we do not. If it were up to us only, the European Commission's conclusions would have solved this issue back in December," he said of the postponed decision on Serbia's application to become a candidate for EU membership.

Portas told a join news conference held with Jeremić that Portugal also supported Serbia's bid to take over the OSCE presidency for 2014 and 2015.

"The dialogue between Belgrade and Priština should continue, while Portugal counts on Belgrade to maintain stability on the ground and not support initiatives to put up barricades in northern Kosovo," said he.

Jeremić noted in his address to reporters that to date, there had been no consensus among EU members on Serbia's integrations, and underlined that the Serbian government would not give up on its strategic orientation - continued reforms that should bring the country in line with European standards.

The two foreign ministers also discussed economic issues, and agreed that it was necessary to finalize talks on abolishment of double taxing between Serbia and Portugal.