Frattini

BELGRADE - If there is political will, closing the chapters in the EU accession talks with Serbia and Montenegro is "absolutely possible" within two-three years, says Franco Frattini, president of the Italian Society for International Organisation.

BELGRADE - European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic on Tuesday spoke with President of the Italian Society for International Organisation Franco Frattini about Serbia-EU relations, Serbia's EU accession process, the reforms underway, the situation in the region and other significant matters.

Franco Frattini is convinced the EU will not allow any state, Croatia included, to block the opening of Serbia's negotiation chapters over a bilateral dispute.

Former vice-president of the European Commission and former Italian foreign minister also said he thinks Serbia's goal to join the bloc by 2020 is "realistic."

BELGRADE - Former vice-president of the European Commission and Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini is convinced that the EU will not allow any state, Croatia included, to block the opening of negotiation chapters for Serbia over a bilateral dispute.

Frattini also describes Serbia's goal to join the bloc by 2020 as realistic.

Franco Frattini believes Serbia still plays a leading role in the region, while it is "in Europe's interest to support Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic."

According to the former European Commission vice-president and Italian foreign minister Vucic "enjoys a very good reputation in the European Union and the West."

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic's initiative for establishing a joint remembrance day for all victims of the wars of the 1990s "is a great step forward."

Franco Frattini, Italy's former foreign minister, stated Tuesday he expects that Serbia's first negotiating chapters with the EU will be opened in October.

Frattini said his optimism is based on the fact that the European Commission will complete its regular report on Serbia's progress on the EU path by then.

BELGRADE - Nebojsa Stefanovic, Serbian minister of the interior, and Franco Frattini, Serbian government's advisor on the EU integration, have agreed that the fight against corruption and crime are identified as priorities, and concluded that the opening of new negotiating chapters in the EU accession negotiations can be expected in the months to come.

BELGRADE - Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic met on Tuesday in Rome with President of the Italian Society for International Organization and former Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini to discuss Serbia's progress towards EU membership and the economic reforms implemented by the Serbian government.