The outlook for closer European integration for Serbia, regional cooperation, the Kosovo question and bilateral relations. These are the topics for Foreign Minister Emma Bonino’s discussions with the Serbian leadership in Belgrade on 18 June.
During the visit, her first outside Italy apart from institutional ones, for example on EU business, minister Bonino will meet the Serbian President, Tomislav Nikolic; the Premier, Ivica Dacic; the Foreign Minister, Ivan Mrki; and the Deputy Premier and Defence Minister, Aleksandar Vucic. On 19 June she will be visiting Pristina to meet the Kosovar leadership.
Support for closer European integration for Balkans
Minister Bonino’s visit to Belgrade can be set in the framework of Italy’s support for closer European integration for the Balkans, at a crucial stage in Serbia’s progress towards Europe. Italy hopes that the European Council at the end of June will set a date for opening Serbia’s EU accession negotiations, not least in view of the historic agreement with Kosovo on 19 April 2013.
At a bilateral level, Italy is one of Serbia’s leading partners, in terms of in political relations and in the commercial and investment sectors.
