Talks to begin on visa relaxations

Talks about abolishing visas for Serbian citizens start today with a meeting with European Commission experts. Commission Vice President Franco Frattini is coming to Belgrade for the occasion. Talks to begin on visa relaxations The European Commission decided on 18 January to start consultations over visa relaxations for Serbian citizens following the appraisal that “technical preparations in Serbia have progressed sufficiently” and have made the decision possible. As it was announced at today’s meeting, key areas in Serbia need to be evaluated. Drazen Maravic, the chief of the Interior Ministry’s Bureau for International Cooperation, will represent Belgrade at the talks in Brussels. He emphasized that the dialogue's outcome would be “a road map" for Serbia to “the white Shengen list”, because the criteria were general and “we would like to make them more precise through the dialogue, to know what exactly we have to do in order for the EU to abolish visas for us.” Fratini will be attending the meeting. The key areas in Serbia will be identified during the meeting. Fratini said he was glad because it would open the way to freedom of movement. “That is a part of our common European future”, he said. The document should define in detail the guidelines and requirements that all countries in the region should fulfill in order to gradually reach visa liberalization. Visa requirements for Serbain citizens have been relaxed and the visa prices reduced from EUR 60 to EUR 35. He added that it would be logical for a new mission to come by the end of the year in order to review progress and, on the basis of the mission’s findings, the European Commission would then make an appropriate proposal to the EU Council of Ministers.

Talks to begin on visa relaxations

The European Commission decided on 18 January to start consultations over visa relaxations for Serbian citizens following the appraisal that “technical preparations in Serbia have progressed sufficiently” and have made the decision possible. As it was announced at today’s meeting, key areas in Serbia need to be evaluated.

Dražen Maravić, the chief of the Interior Ministry’s Bureau for International Cooperation, will represent Belgrade at the talks in Brussels.

He emphasized that the dialogue's outcome would be “a road map" for Serbia to “the white Shengen list”, because the criteria were general and “we would like to make them more precise through the dialogue, to know what exactly we have to do in order for the EU to abolish visas for us.”

Fratini will be attending the meeting. The key areas in Serbia will be identified during the meeting.

Fratini said he was glad because it would open the way to freedom of movement.

“That is a part of our common European future”, he said.

The document should define in detail the guidelines and requirements that all countries in the region should fulfill in order to gradually reach visa liberalization.

Visa requirements for Serbain citizens have been relaxed and the visa prices reduced from EUR 60 to EUR 35.

He added that it would be logical for a new mission to come by the end of the year in order to review progress and, on the basis of the mission’s findings, the European Commission would then make an appropriate proposal to the EU Council of Ministers.