The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic and the Chairman of the European Integrations Committee, Laszlo Varga, talked today, at the National Assembly House, to the delegation of the German province of Baden-Virtemberg, headed by the Minister of State and European Affairs at the Government of the province, Prof. Dr Wolfgang Reinhardt. Deputy Prime Minister Bozidar Djelic also took part in the meeting.

Minister Reinhardt pointed out that the foundation of a Joint Commission Serbia - Baden-Virtemberg opens a new chapter in the cooperation between the province and Serbia which should contribute to improve cooperation in various fields, particularly economy, agriculture, transport, infrastructure, local self-government and education, as well as other. He also said that projects concerning the promotion of the Danube region cooperation strategy aimed at drawing these countries closer together shall receive particular attention. Reinhardt stressed that Germany supports Serbia’s accession to the European Union, as well as shortening the period for it. Germany also advocates deblocking Serbia’s Transitional Trade Agreement with the EU, while achieving full cooperation with The Hague Tribunal remains a condition for the commencement of the ratification of the whole SAA.

The Minister at the Government of the German province of Baden-Virtemberg pointed out the verdict of the Federal Constitutional Court according to which the agreement of both the Houses of the German Parliament shall be requested when voting on the expansion of the EU.

The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Prof. Dr Dragoljub Micunovic stated that Serbia accepts European standards, the National Assembly’s expedient work on the harmonisation of domestic legislation with that of the EU attests to it. This should give the key economic and judiciary reforms legal form which shall facilitate Serbia’s cooperation with other European countries and encourage investors to invest more in its economy.

Micunovic stressed the importance of visa liberalisation for Serbia since with it, in a way, it emerges from the blockade.

The Chairman of the European Integrations Committee, Laszlo Varga said that in order to keep up the high degree of public support for the European integration policy, it is important to achieve formal progress on the road and enable Serbia’s candidature for EU membership.