"Britain supports giving Serbia EU talks date"

LONDON Britain "supports fully Serbia's EU integration and efforts to get the start date for the accession talks", it was said on Wednesday. British Minister for Europe David Lidington and Serbia's Deputy Prime Minister for EU Integration Suzana Grubjesic made the statement during their meeting in London. "Britain supports giving Serbia EU talks date" Lidington and Grubjesic noted it would not be good for the EU or the candidate countries to have a break in EU enlargement, the Serbian government office for media relations has stated. Grubjesic stressed Serbia was prepared to begin the talks immediately and was aware it faced a great opportunity it should not miss. The government has displayed commitment to EU integration and implemented as quickly as possible everything that was agreed. "During the meetings I had today with the UK minister for Europe and prime minister's advisers, I once again received strong assurance that the UK supported the enlargement policy and did not want a break after Croatia's accession," Grubjesic stated. She met also with British Director of the European and Global Issues Secretariat at the Cabinet Office Angus Lapsley and Patrick Rock, Prime Minister David Cameron's adviser on policy. According to Grubjesic, it was stressed at the meetings that Serbia had full support in continuing and speeding up the integration process, but that it "had to be aware of what it had to do to make it certain the talks started in June". "It is an opportunity we as a nation must not miss," she underlined. Continuation of the talks with Pristina and implementation of what has been agreed is key for Serbia, Grubjesic pointed out. After her meetings with government officials in Downing Street, Grubjesic addressed the House of Lords committee on European affairs, which decides on EU enlargement on behalf of the UK. After the visit to London, Grubjesic will travel to Copenhagen, Dublin and Brussels. Tanjug

"Britain supports giving Serbia EU talks date"

Lidington and Grubješić noted it would not be good for the EU or the candidate countries to have a break in EU enlargement, the Serbian government office for media relations has stated.

Grubješić stressed Serbia was prepared to begin the talks immediately and was aware it faced a great opportunity it should not miss. The government has displayed commitment to EU integration and implemented as quickly as possible everything that was agreed.

"During the meetings I had today with the UK minister for Europe and prime minister's advisers, I once again received strong assurance that the UK supported the enlargement policy and did not want a break after Croatia's accession," Grubješić stated.

She met also with British Director of the European and Global Issues Secretariat at the Cabinet Office Angus Lapsley and Patrick Rock, Prime Minister David Cameron's adviser on policy.

According to Grubješić, it was stressed at the meetings that Serbia had full support in continuing and speeding up the integration process, but that it "had to be aware of what it had to do to make it certain the talks started in June".

"It is an opportunity we as a nation must not miss," she underlined.

Continuation of the talks with Priština and implementation of what has been agreed is key for Serbia, Grubješić pointed out.

After her meetings with government officials in Downing Street, Grubješić addressed the House of Lords committee on European affairs, which decides on EU enlargement on behalf of the UK.

After the visit to London, Grubješić will travel to Copenhagen, Dublin and Brussels.