Serbian PM, Austrian FM present "action plan for 2016"

Serbian PM, Austrian FM present "action plan for 2016"

The plan envisages the support of next steps in the Serbia’s EU accession process. Under the plan, a number of chapters, including chapters 23, 24, 5, 15, 25 and 26, should be opened in 2016.

Austria will also support the process of normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, while the plan envisages joint work on good neighborly relations and solving of bilateral disputes. An expert level conference on bilateral disputes will be held in the spring of next year.

Austria also intends to further build its position of the leading foreign investor in Serbia, and support implementation of the reform agenda, especially when it comes to cutting red tape and improving legal security in order to improve investment climate.

Also envisaged are regular bilateral political consultations between the deputy foreign ministers.

The plan provides for cooperation in the deradicalization process and combating terrorism.

When it comes to the refugee crisis, close cooperation along the Balkan Route will continue to help control the wave of migrants.

Dual education

A memorandum on cooperation in the development of elements of dual education in secondary vocational education in Serbia, aimed at significantly reducing the rate of unemployment of young people, was signed at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) Tuesday.

The memorandum, which provides for Austria supporting Serbia in introducing dual education it its education system, was signed by Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria Sebastian Kurz, President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Christoph Leitl, Serbian Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Srdjan Verbic and PKS President Marko Cadez.

Leitl said that while Europe in general was facing a major problem with youth unemployment, it was very low in countries employing dual education.