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12. February 2003 - Wednesday |
The date of our admittance to EU depends on us - Assistant Minister
Belgrade - 'We are still not officially negotiating with European Union. Now we are in the phase of preparation called the process of stabilization and joining', Ana Trbovic, Assistant to Minister for economic relations with abroad says.
Q: When will these negotiations begin?
A: 'There is just one step to be made and that is Feasibility study that EU Commission is making. In order to be able to make that study EU has to know what country it is dealing with. Until recently that was not quite clear. However, now we have the Constitutional Charter and Law. We now have to bring the economic systems of Serbia and Montenegro into accordance'.
Q: When can we expect that the union of Serbia and Montenegro becomes a candidate for membership in EU?
A: 'According to the most optimistic expectations we can become an official candidate for EU membership in 2005 and EU member in 2010. That depends on us only'.
Q: Will Serbia join EU sooner as an independent state than in union with Montenegro?
A: 'At this moment EU is insisting on mutual state. It is in the interest of Serbia that the state union is functional. It would not be good for Serbia that the union splits because it might be a beginning of further disintegration'.
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