First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta Tonio Borg signed a protocol on readmission yesterday.

After the signing, Dacic stated that Serbia has signed a general readmission agreement with the EU and under this agreement, Serbia is obliged to sign protocols concerning the implementation of the readmission agreement with EU member countries.

It is necessary to improve police cooperation between Serbia and Malta, he stressed, adding that at his meeting with Borg it was decided that talks will be initiated on signing an agreement regarding cooperation in combating organised crime and terrorism, considering the fact that up until now the police forces of the two countries have cooperated through Interpol.

Nearly 4,000 Serbs live in Malta, making up 1% of the total population. It is important that the police of the two countries are able to exchange information in order to effectively fight against crime and terrorism, observed Dacic.

There is scope for improving cooperation between Serbia and Malta in other areas as well, such as the economy, remarked Dacic. He expressed his gratitude to Malta for its support during the process of visa liberalisation.

Borg emphasised that he is convinced that the signing of the protocol concerning the implementation of the readmission agreement is going to open up a new chapter in relations between Malta and Serbia, adding that it is necessary to sign an agreement regarding police cooperation in the fight against organised crime, terrorism and drug trafficking because of the trans-border character of crime today.

Malta has established formal police cooperation with North African and Mediterranean countries, with whom Serbia will also be able to cooperate after signing an agreement with Malta, he highlighted.

Malta supported the EU’s decision to remove visa restrictions for Serbian citizens so that Serbs living in Malta are able to communicate with their families and friends more easily, declared Borg.