EC: Serbia to have major role in Adriatic-Ionian Initiative

BRUSSELS - The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled an action plan of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative (AII) that hands Serbia a major role and includes a phased reconstruction of the railway line from Belgrade to Bar.

Besides Serbia, the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative includes Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Greece, and its objectives are establishment of ties, development and providing support to the EU integration of candidate countries.

Serbia and Italy have done an excellent job, Maria Damanaki, the European commissioner for maritime affairs and fisheries, told reporters as the action plan was unveiled at the EC headquarters.

Serbia and Italy are co-coordinating the establishment of regional ties - one of the Initiative's four pillars, the other three being economic development, environmental protection and development of sustainable tourism.

The action plan also includes a phased reconstruction of the railway line from Belgrade to Bar, with a total of EUR 50 billion available to Initiative member states.

The unveiled action plan will be adopted by the European Parliament and the European Council by the autumn, with implementation expected to start next year.

Serbia joined the AII while still in a union with Montenegro, but retained membership in the organisation after Montenegro's declaration of independence.

Photo Tanjug Video (illustration)