“Visa liberalization to save EUR 20mn”

BELGRADE

Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić says that Serbian industry and the tax payer will save an annual EUR 20mn thanks to visa liberalization. Đelić told daily Večernje Novosti that Serbia had to meet several more obligations by October. 

He said that these obligations included:

– the implementation of a Law on Foreigners

– the adoption of a National Migration Management Strategy,

– an action plan for combating organized crime and drugs,

– and implementation of procedures for issuing biometric passports to citizens living in Kosovo.

The reason for this final condition is that, under UN Resolution 1244, the Serbian Interior Ministry has no jurisdiction there, and signing the operational agreement is the responsibility of EULEX, under UN auspices.

“We will fully respect the deadline of October 1 for meeting all these requirements,” Đelić said, adding that the “government will not allow any of this to be compromised.”