During his visit to Belgrade, European Parliament President Antonio Tajani took part in the conference “EU-Serbia 2018: Investment, growth and job creation“.

The conference began with a signature of a financial agreement between Serbia and the European Investment Bank, securing a grant and a loan for reconstruction and modernization of Nis-Dimitrovgrad railway line, as well as an agreement between the CoE Development Bank and the Republic of Serbia aimed at the Regional Housing Programme.

Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic signed the agreement worth EUR44,666,200 in grants for the reconstruction and modernization of the Sicevo-Dimitrovgrad section on the Nis-Dimitrovgrad railway line.

The Minister and EIB Vice-President Dario Scannapieco signed another agreement, securing money for electrification and signalization improvement of Nis railway by-pass and the Sicevo-Dimitrovgrad section.

Scannapieco and Finance Minister Dusan Vujovic signed an agreement, approving an EIB loan worth EUR134,000,000 for the modernization of Nis-Dimitrovgrad railway line.

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Jolsimovic and CoE Development Bank Vice-Governor signed an agreement on donation worth EUR18 million toward the Regional Housing Programme.

Tajani: Serbia is the frontrunner for EU membership in the region

Serbian Minister Ana Brnabic addressed the conference by saying that “Serbian Government is looking forward to the future in order to adapt the country to inevitable, major and rapid change brought by new technologies.“

As she put it, Serbia is attractive to investors and in order to keep its good track-record we need to improve business environment further and create a climate that is conducive to economic growth.

Speaking about Serbia-EU economic cooperation, Brnabic recalled that the Union is the biggest foreign trade partner of Serbia. Our trade exchange has increased by 47 per cent in the past five years – exports have expanded by as many as 80 per cent, she said, pointing to drastically improved structure as industrial products now account for 87 per cent of total exports.

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EP President Antonio Tajani said that, owing to reform, Serbia has secured its position as a frontrunner for EU membership. He added that joining the EU together with Montenegro “prior to 2025” is within the bounds of possibility.

He said that he was happy to hear that the latest opinion polls showed more than 50 per cent of Serbian citizens are in favour of EU membership, and that today’s discussions with Serbian leadership made him feel “more optimistic than ever.”

“The Serbs are Europeans, just as any other EU Member States’ nationals. Belgrade is in Europe, not outside of it. Serbia has a European identity,” Tajani said.

He added that the EU could help Serbia to attract new investment and increase BDP growth. The best way to do it is through strengthening of SMEs, he said.

“Without it, there can be no job creation,” Tajani noted.