Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic will meet with European Parliament members on 16 June in Strasbourg, during his visit to key European institutions. On 17 June he will hold meetings with European Commission officials in Brussels.

Djelic wrapped up his visit to Luxembourg yesterday, where he met with President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Philippe Maystadt and Luxembourg’s finance Minister Luc Frieden.

In a statement to Beta news agency, Djelic stated that agreement has been reached with the EIB concerning an additional tranche of €250 million for liquidity and financing of small and medium-sized enterprises.

This is a continuation of a successful programme which started last year. The last tranche consisted of a similar amount and on the basis of the success achieved then it was decided that further funds will be made available, he explained.

The EIP President will visit Belgrade on 27 September and will head a conference regarding the financing of the Danube Strategy. He will also open a regional office of the EIB in Belgrade, Djelic announced.

Agreement was reached with Minister Frieden that a business delegation from Luxembourg will visit Serbia to discuss possible investment projects in Serbia, he asserted.

Speaking about tomorrow’s visit to Strasbourg, Djelic specified that 12 meetings have been scheduled with European Parliament members, including members responsible for the Danube Strategy and Roma inclusion.

Serbia will duly focus on communication with the European Parliament, which according to the Treaty of Lisbon, has received further powers. The European Parliament is consulted regarding all matters of importance related to Serbia’s European integration process, particularly when it comes to funds. This is why it is very important that Serbia maintains a strong presence and develops close relations with the majority of Parliament members, he emphasised.

Djelic confirmed that he will talk to EU commissioners for enlargement and economy Stefan Fule and Olli Rehn on 17 June.

After the EU foreign ministers’ positive decision on beginning the process for ratifying the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement (SAA), this will be an opportunity for moving a step forward and examining Serbia’s progress so that the European Commission is able to prepare a positive annual report for November this year, he outlined

He said that the Danube Strategy and negotiations on the South Eastern European transport community will also bediscussed.

As far the Questionnaire is concerned, I will inform European Commission officials about the great deal
accomplished by the Serbian administration, which has prepared 4,500 pages of responses, based on the experiences of countries that have been through this process, stated Djelic.

This is yet another proof of the fact that Serbia is persistently working on its EU integration process, he
concluded.