Swedish FM on visas, SAA

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt says he is convinced Serbia will make every effort to fulfill conditions for the abolishment of visas. These conditions were set by the European Commission. Bilt, whose country has recently taken over the rotating EU presidency, told Belgrade daily Blic that Serbia meeting all the conditions would "enable this institution to recommend introduction of a visa-free regime during this year". Swedish FM on visas, SAA "The EC recommendation will be decisive as union member states make their final decision," said he. Asked whether he anticipates any problems, Bildt said this was "hard to predict at this point". "The visa abolishment decision is made by all the union members, on the European Commission's recommendation. It is certain that its recommendation will be decisive for a positive decision of the European Council, but there could still be delays caused by issues that could come up in a latter phase," the Swedish minister was quoted as saying. He stated that his country, as the current presiding EU member, is "dedicated to the Interim Agreement of the union with Serbia to come into force". "Our efforts to make this happen would be greatly facilitated with Mladic's arrest or convincing evidence that would guarantee that Serbia has done all in her power to arrest him. The Western Balkans as a whole has a confirmed perspective in the EU." Bildt was optimistic about the possibility that the interim trade deal and the SAA – of which the former is part – could be unblocked at the European Council, "as soon as the EU members states agree that Serbia has met all political conditions". "As soon as Serbia meets all political conditions – satisfactory cooperation with the Hague Tribunal – and the European Council unblocks the Interim Agreement, Sweden will be ready for a conversation on the timeframe for Serbia's EU candidacy application submission," said he.

Swedish FM on visas, SAA

"The EC recommendation will be decisive as union member states make their final decision," said he.

Asked whether he anticipates any problems, Bildt said this was "hard to predict at this point".

"The visa abolishment decision is made by all the union members, on the European Commission's recommendation. It is certain that its recommendation will be decisive for a positive decision of the European Council, but there could still be delays caused by issues that could come up in a latter phase," the Swedish minister was quoted as saying.

He stated that his country, as the current presiding EU member, is "dedicated to the Interim Agreement of the union with Serbia to come into force".

"Our efforts to make this happen would be greatly facilitated with Mladić's arrest or convincing evidence that would guarantee that Serbia has done all in her power to arrest him. The Western Balkans as a whole has a confirmed perspective in the EU."

Bildt was optimistic about the possibility that the interim trade deal and the SAA – of which the former is part – could be unblocked at the European Council, "as soon as the EU members states agree that Serbia has met all political conditions".

"As soon as Serbia meets all political conditions – satisfactory cooperation with the Hague Tribunal – and the European Council unblocks the Interim Agreement, Sweden will be ready for a conversation on the timeframe for Serbia's EU candidacy application submission," said he.