Prime Minister Mario Monti, accompanied by a large delegation of Ministers, is in Belgrade for one of the first inter-governmental summits of his mandate. A summit with Boris Tadic’s Serbia, which, with Italy’s support, has just acquired EU candidate status. The Italian Government delegation includes the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Giulio Terzi; Home Affairs, Anna Maria Cancellieri; Economic Development, Corrado Passera; Defence, Gianpaolo Di Paola; EU Affairs, Enzo Moavero Milanesi; Environment, Corrado Clini; and Agriculture, Franco Braga.
A new impetus to bilateral relations but also, and above all, confirmation of Italy’s convinced support for Belgrade’s progress towards Europe were the two key issues for discussions. Serbia, after the green light for its candidate status given by the recent EU Council meeting, must now embark on the road to Europe and further negotiations with the European Union.
Italy also has strategic economic relations with Belgrade, as Serbia’s 3rd trading partner after Germany and Russia. Italy is the leading investor in Serbia, with holdings in about 400 enterprises that employ 20,000 people (2% of the country’s labour force). Our investments there amount to around 2 billion euros, with sales amounting to 2.4 billion.
The Summit will see our partnership with Serbia reiterated and strengthened, not least through the signing of a number of agreements that encompass combating organised crime, drug trafficking and international terrorism. A memorandum will also be signed for collaboration in civil protection matters.
Other agreements to be signed include a protocol on rural development and agricultural quality; cooperation in environmental protection matters; and a memorandum of understanding for IT cooperation between the Italian and Serbian finance police. Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi will also be signing a cooperation agreement on Belgrade’s EU integration.
