Schockenhoff visits Belgrade to discuss EU, economy, Kosovo

BERLIN/BELGRADE - A delegation from the German parliament led by Andreas Schockenhoff will arrive in Belgrade on Wednesday to meet with officials of the Serbian government and opposition.

The meetings will focus on Serbia's EU integration, the implementation of the agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, relations with Kosovo and the economic situation in Serbia, according to a statement from Berlin.

Head of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) office in Belgrade Henri Bohnet told Tanjug that visit of the German parliamentary delegation to Serbia can be viewed as a sign of encouragement and support to reforms of the Serbian government in the context of EU integration.

Schockenhoff, deputy chairman of the parliamentary group of CDU/CSU, the coalition led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is arriving in Belgrade with foreign policy advisors. The aim of the visit is to learn more about the current political situation in Serbia under the new government and about the situation after the floods that hit Serbia in May, Bohnet told Tanjug.

The German delegation arrives after Serbia's intensive diplomatic efforts in Berlin, where Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met with Chancellor Angela Merkel and a joint forum was held on Serbia's new beginning on its European path, opened by Vucic and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Photo Tanjug/T. Valic (archive)