REPUBLIC OF SERBIA GOVERNMENT European Integration Office

1. REPUBLIC OF SERBIA GOVERNMENT European Integration Office EU perspectives and current standing of the countries in the region in the Stabilization and Association Process - THE CASE OF REPUBLIC OF SERBIA - Tanja Miščević, Director of the SEIO Belgrade, 7 and 8 December 2005

2. The role of the SEIO • SEIO is main coordinator of the EU integration process in Serbia • SEIO prepares the European Integration Council’s meetings • SEIO coordinates all the line ministries in the process of EU integrations and forthcoming SAA negotiations • SEIO prepares regular reports for the Parliament • SEIO - a Secretariat for the Serbian Negotiating team and coordinator for SAA negotiations

3. Serbia-Montenegro – institutional structure of the European Integrations Process Negotiation team of the State Union of SCG SCG Council for European integrations SCG PARLIAMENT Committee for European Integrations SCG European Integration Office SCG Ministry of Foreign Affairs Directorate General for EU REPUBLIC OF SERBIA REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO Council for European Integrations Serbian Negotiation Team Deputy Prime Minister’s Cabinet Council for European Integrations Montenegrin Negotiation Team Serbian European Integration Office Ministry for International Economic Relations and European Integrations SERBIAN NATIONAL PARLIAMENT Committee for European Integrations MONTENEGRIN NATIONAL PARLIAMENT Committee for European Integrations Committee for coordination of European integration process Committee for coordination of European integration process EIU – line ministries EIU – line ministries

4. Strategic and institutional preparations for the SAA negotiations • Organized harmonisation of national legislation (since 2003) • National Assembly Resolution on Serbia’s European future (October 2004) • Establishment of negotiation team (February 2005) • National Strategy of the Republic of Serbia for SCG’s accession to the European Union (June 2005) • Cooperation with the NGO and media • Communication campaign • Cooperation with the countries in the region, new and old EU members

5. Preparations for/and SAA negotiations in Serbia QUESTION OF CAPACITIES !!! • WG for preamble, political dialogue and regional cooperation • WG for agriculture • WG for free movement of goods • WG for free movement of services • WG for free movement of capital and financial cooperation • WG for harmonisation of legislation, transitional and final provisions Platform for SAA negotiations (September 2005)

6. SCG Negotiation Team Serbian Negotiation Team Montenegrin Negotiation Team • Preamble, political dialogue, institutional, transitional and final provisions • Visa regime, asylum, migrations and integrated border management • Harmonisation of legislation • WG for preamble, political dialogue, institutional, transitional and final provisions • WG for agriculture and fisheries • WG for free movement of goods • WG for free movement of people, services and capital • WG for financial cooperation and other areas of cooperation • WG for legal harmonisation • WG for preamble, political dialogue and regional cooperation • WG for agriculture • WG for free movement of goods • WG for free movement of services • WG for free movement of capital and financial cooperation • WG for harmonisation of legislation, transitional and final provisions

7. SAA negotiations Started on October 10th Timetable (max. 1 year, 3 Official rounds and 5 Technical meetings) Key issue is the pace of trade liberalization Serbia is prepared for short and smooth negotiations First official round held on 7-8 November 2005 EC’s Assessment – constructive approach of Serbian Negotiation Team

8. First Official round of negotiations Negotiated issues • Preamble • Art. 1 – the goal of association • General Principles • Regional Cooperation of the SAA • Some of the cooperation policies, incl. Financial cooperation

9. First Technical Round – 20/21 December • Issues to be negotiated: • Free movement of goods • General provisions on trade in the SAA • Framework of concessions in industrial, agricultural and fisheries products – twin track • Cooperation policies

10. How to Increase the Capacities SEIO’s competences • Coordination of Legal approximation • Action plan for Harmonization/Internal Screening • Economic analysis and coordination • Monitoring Tool and Methodology for economic assessment of Acquis • Institutional and administrative capacity building • Constant training and support for IC building • Communication and relations with the EU institutions • National campaign, public polls, cooperation with the media and NGO’s and promotional materials

11. Regional and international cooperation How to Increase the Capacities Memoranda of Understanding • Hungary-Serbia • Croatia-SCG • Slovenia-SCG • Bosnia and Herzegovina-SCG-is being prepared • Macedonia-SCG-is being prepared • Czech Republic-Serbia-is being prepared

12. REPUBLIC OF SERBIA GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA EUROPEAN INTEGRATION OFFICE Nemanjina 34/V, Belgrade Tel/Fax: +381 11 3619 317 www.seio.sr.gov.yu