"Balkans to remain in focus of Finland's EU presidency"

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic met on Monday in Belgrade with Finnish Ambassador to Serbia Pertti Ikonen.

Ikonen said the Western Balkans would remain in focus when Finland takes over the EU Presidency next year, the Serbian government announced.

In a discussion about Serbia's current domestic and international affairs, Brnabic noted that EU accession was a strategic goal for Serbia, but that comprehensive reforms launched by the previous and continued by the present government were primarily significant for the interests of citizens and further economic prosperity of the country.

She also assessed that at this moment the most important are changes in the field of justice and added that she expects that after complying with the recommendations of the Venice Commission and completing reforms in this area, the state will get a strong, independent and more accountable judiciary.

Ikonen said that Finland supports the process of Serbia's European integration and the enlargement of the European Union, stressing that the Western Balkans region will be in focus after Finland takes over the presidency of the Council of the European Union next year.

He stressed that his country has good experiences when it comes to regional cooperation, but also the fight against corruption and that these are important experiences that Finland can pass on to Serbia.

Ikonen praised the commitment of the Serbian government and the prime minister to establishing e-government, adding that transparency of public administration is the most effective way for combating corruption.

The two officials also discussed the area of rule of law and the progress of Serbia in chapters 23 and 24, as well as the drafting of the media strategy as an important document for the regulation of media freedom.