First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic will host Mr. Paolo Gentiloni, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic, on 31 March. Minister Gentiloni’s visit to Belgrade is an important bilateral visit, for Italy has so far extended its full support to Serbia with the aim of opening the negotiating chapters in the shortest possible time, whereby Serbian reform efforts made so far would be recognized, and Serbia’s constructive influence in the Western Balkan region would be reaffirmed.

Common interest and strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the areas of economy and energy, fight against corruption, tax and finance-related criminal acts, will constitute a basis for the upcoming talks.

Moreover, the trilateral talks will feature as one of the topics of the meeting between the two Ministers; the talks, initiated by Italy in Rome in January, should be continued by an operational-level meeting on topics that all three parties find useful, particularly the fight against terrorism, followed by infrastructure, energy and transport.

This is an important bilateral visit in the context of preparations for the coming scheduled meetings between the two Prime Ministers and the Summit of the two Governments, and for the announced Presidential visit.

It is clear that by way of additionally intensifying both countries’ official visits, Italy wishes to offer Serbia multifaceted support to its reform path, and to a more dynamic process of its EU integration.