NEGOTATIONS

EXPLANATORY SCREENING

Meeting of the explanatory screening for negotiating Chapter 1 - Free movement of goods was held in Brussels between 17th and 20th June 2014. The meeting was attended by representatives of relevant institutions and led by representatives of institutions in charge - Ministry of Economy and European Integration Office.

Delegation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia was headed by Ms. Tanja Miščević, Head of Negotiating Team.

BILATERAL SCREENING

Meeting of the bilateral screening for negotiating Chapter 1 - Free movement of goods was held in Brussels between 9th and 12th September 2014, was attended by representatives of relevant institutions and led by representatives of institutions in charge - Ministry of Economy and European Integration Office.

Delegation of the Government of the Republic of Serbia was headed by Ms. Tanja Miščević, Head of Negotiating Team with the EU and Jelena Popovic, assistant of the Minister of Economy and deputy chairman of Negotiating Group 1 (NG 1).

Beside representatives of Ministry of Economy Serbian delegation was comprised of representatives from: Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, Ministry of Transportation, Construction and Infrastructure, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, Ministry of Energy and Mining, Ministry of Culture and Information, Ministry of Defence, Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (RATEL), Road Traffic Safety Agency, Institute for standardization of Serbia, Accreditation Body of Serbia, Directorate for Measures and Precious Metals and European Integration Office.

Presentations of members of Serbian delegation are the beginning of the assessment of the level of compliance of Serbian legal system with the legislation of European Union, as well as the determination what have to be done to achieve full harmonization with EU acquis.

The meeting was excellently prepared by the Ministry of Economy, which was pointed out by the Representatives of Directorate-General for Enlargement and Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry. They also emphasised the importance of Chapter 1 which also the most demanding Chapter.

Assistant Minister also stressed the importance of this Chapter, because implementation of legislation in this area is one of the most important preconditions for increasing the level of competitiveness of Serbian products and facilitating trade and cooperation between business entities from Serbia and EU, within European single market.

Representatives of relevant institutions from Republic of Serbia made important contacts with the experts of European Commission. They are invited to take part in the work of Working groups and other expert bodies engaged in the implementation of legislation and its revisions, (either regarding horizontal issues, or legislation defining specific groups of products). 

At the end of the meeting Republic of Serbia stated that accepts EU acquis in Chapter 1 and will be ready to implement it fully with use of transitional periods in certain areas, which will be subject of negotiations.