Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration Bozidar Djelic met with EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule in Brussels today. They talked about financial support in the amount of €200 million which the EU will provide to Serbia for assisting the budget.

Djelic emphasised that agreement was reached with Fule that negotiations concerning macro-financial help will be completed by the middle of July.

These funds come from loans which the EU receives on very favourable terms with a long payment period and low interest rates, he explained.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his hope that the first tranche of this EU financial support to Serbia will be available by the end of this year.

He confirmed that he presented Fule with the elements for an upcoming report on Serbia's progress in the process of European integration.

Also, he informed Fule on the fact that Serbia has prepared responses to the questionnaires previously received by other Western Balkan countries within their EU integration process.

The European Commission has notified us that it will be able to receive the responses to the questionnaire once a "green light" from the EU Council of Ministers arrives, outlined Djelic and added that Serbia wants to show it has the capacity, which in no way means pressure on the European Commission or EU member states.

It is important that our country shows it is completely ready for that moment and for filling out the questionnaire which we will then receive, Djelic said.

During his visit to Brussels, Djelic will also meet with EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding and Director of the Directorate for Western Balkans at the European Commission Pierre Mirel.