On 8 February 2006, the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, HE Gerhard Jandl, and Austrian MP Wolfgang Grossruck, attended a sitting of the European Integrations Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and presented priorities for Austria’s presidency of the European Union.

Mr Jandl said that negotiations on Serbia and Montenegro’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU should conclude by the autumn, but also warned that talks may be called off if Serbia did not meet its obligations towards the Hague Tribunal. He added that positive signals were being sent by the Serbian Government with respect to co-operation with the Tribunal.

The speed of negotiations between Serbia and Montenegro and the EU will be affected by the Montenegrin referendum on independence, Jandl also said. If Montenegro were to choose independence, the Ambassador emphasised, negotiations with Serbia would be modified accordingly.

Mr Jandl reminded the audience of how successful bilateral co-operation between Austria and Serbia was, quoting figures showing Austria had invested a billion Euros in Serbia in 2005, and adding that 320,000 Serbs live in Austria –which, taken together, form good foundations for Serbia and Montenegro to be a priority for Austria’s presidency of the EU.

Austrian MP and OSCE Rapporteur Wolfgang Grossruck said that Austria, as EU president, would focus on Serbia and Montenegro and countries of the Western Balkans. Mr Grossruck is currently touring Western Balkan nations to gather information for as objective as possible a report to be presented to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Answering questions posed by deputies on the status of Kosovo and Metohia, Mr Jandl said that EU wished for a solution that would prove the most beneficial to the region’s stability. The deputies showed the most interest for issues relating to Kosovo and Metohia, co-operation with the Hague Tribunal, EU entry visas for Serbia and Montenegro nationals, and establishment of a free trade area.

The sitting was chaired by the chairperson of the European Integrations Committee, Ksenija Milivojevic, and attended by officials of the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro, the Council of Europe Mission, the EU Integration Office, and the European Movement.