First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met today with Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic Paolo Gentiloni, who is visiting Belgrade.

Both Foreign Ministers assessed that the two countries had excellent political and economic relations. Minister Dacic thanked his counterpart for the support that Italy had extended to Serbia in the European integration process.
The Serbian Foreign Minister said at a joint press conference after the meeting that Serbia would fulfill everything it signed up to under the Brussels Agreement and everything that was envisaged under the implementation plan, but that it could not be held accountable if new conditions were imposed.

Minister Dacic conveyed to his Italian counterpart that the screening meetings on all chapters had been completed and that it signified that Serbia was ready for their opening.

“Now, this is a political assessment to be made by the Member States if political conditions for such a decision are in evidence. Germany believes that no other chapters could be opened before Chapter 35 concerning Kosovo is opened”, Dacic said.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said that Italy was entirely confident that Serbia’s European integration process should go one step forward and that all the conditions for the European Commission to make the decision on the opening of chapters in the coming months were there.

“We cannot stall the process because Serbia has undertaken obligations and works on their implementation. I believe that there are all the conditions for the European Commission to make the decision on the opening of chapters in the coming months”, Minister Gentiloni said.

The Italian Minister also announced the visit to be made by Italian President Sergio Mattarella on 25 May and added that a joint government meeting was due to be held soon.

“Italy is Serbia’s principal economic partner and one that supports it most on its EU path”, Minister Gentiloni said.