FM says Serbia is "practically associate EU member"

BELGRADE FM Ivan Mrkic has said that with the SAA now in effect, Serbia "practically" became an associate member of the EU. The country also "joined the standards of the EU," he told the Belgrade-based daily Blic. FM says Serbia is "practically associate EU member" "The regime has started that exists in the SAA, and all the rules that go with the agreement. The implementation was one thing, but it's another when the whole complex of harmonization that exists in the SAA spills over to Serbia," Mrkic was quoted as saying. According to him, the coming into force of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) means that bodies will be formed that will implement the agreement, where representatives of both Serbia and the EU will sit. The minister specified that the Council for the SAA will be set up, as well as a parliamentary committee. "The most interesting new thing that comes out of the coming into effect of the SAA is Serbia's obligation to harmonize its foreign policy positions with the joint positions of the EU - if they exist," Mrkic said. (Beta, file) Beta

FM says Serbia is "practically associate EU member"

"The regime has started that exists in the SAA, and all the rules that go with the agreement. The implementation was one thing, but it's another when the whole complex of harmonization that exists in the SAA spills over to Serbia," Mrkić was quoted as saying.

According to him, the coming into force of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) means that bodies will be formed that will implement the agreement, where representatives of both Serbia and the EU will sit.

The minister specified that the Council for the SAA will be set up, as well as a parliamentary committee.

"The most interesting new thing that comes out of the coming into effect of the SAA is Serbia's obligation to harmonize its foreign policy positions with the joint positions of the EU - if they exist," Mrkić said.