Franco Frattini

Franco Frattini, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office's Special Representative for the Transdniestrian Settlement Process, said on Tuesday that Moldova and breakaway Transnistria must be ready to implement all their bilateral agreements by May as a precursor to possible progress on a Russian troop withdrawal from Transnistria.

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."

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.

"MUP ready to start negotiations on Chapter 24"

BELGRADE -- The Serbian Interior Ministry (MUP) "is ready to participate in accession negotiations with the European Union within the framework of Chapter 24."

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 Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met with President of the Italian Society for International Organization Franco Frattini on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Vucic stressed the importance of adopting reform measures and passing a series of laws aimed solely at improving the lives of the Serbian citizens.

"Serbia is bridge between Russia and EU"

BELGRADE -- Special adviser to the Serbia government Franco Frattini considers Serbia's role as a bridge between the EU and Moscow to be "very important."

This former Italian foreign minister and former EU commissioner believes that such a role can help ease tensions related to the Ukrainian crisis.

BELGRADE - Special Adviser to the Serbia Government Franco Frattini considers Serbia's role as a bridge between the EU and Moscow to be very important and believes that such a role can help ease tensions related to the Ukrainian crisis.