Jadranka Joksimovic visits Rome

BELGRADE - Serbia's Minister without Portfolio in charge of EU integration Jadranka Joksimovic started off a two-day visit to Rome on Monday, where she would meet with Italian officials to discuss Serbia's EU integration.

Her meetings on Monday include Minister of EU Affairs Sandro Gozi, presidential adviser on diplomacy, Ambassador Armando Varrichio and State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Senator Benedetto Della Vedova, the Serbian government office for media relations has stated.

On Tuesday, Joksimovic will meet head of the Senate committee on EU policy Vannino Chiti, his counterpart from the lower house Michele Bordo and head of the parliamentary friendship group between Serbia and Italy Stefano Dambruoso.

Joksimovic will also hold a lecture at the Italian society for international organisations on Tuesday, which will focus on advantages of Serbia's EU integration. She will also meet with former foreign minister of Italy and vice president of the European Commission Franco Frattini.

Italy, as the country holding the EU presidency, is a strong advocate of Serbia's integration into the EU, and also provides political and expert support to that end.

The country is also an important development partner to Serbia, with project cooperation spanning a number of important sectors, like agriculture, education, energy, environment and healthcare, the statement says.

Photo Tanjug/D. Stankovic (archive)