Southeastern Europe

BELGRADE - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic met with Giulio Tramonti, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Italian House of Representatives, to discuss further advancement of parliamentary cooperation as an important segment of bilateral relations.

Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis stressed the importance of safeguarding the European path of all the countries of the Balkans and the wider region in a period of tough challenges.

TRIESTE - Serbian PM Milos Vucevic said on Friday in Trieste Serbia's objective was to become a full member of the EU and noted that it was impossible to complete the European story without EU accession for the Western Balkans.

KOTOR - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien in Kotor, Montenegro, on Thursday to discuss the current regional and geopolitical situations, progress in the Western Balkans' EU accession process and opportunities for further strengthening of relations and expanding Serbia-EU cooperation.

BELGRADE - Trade with Turkey is growing steadily and it reached 2.3 bln euros last year, making the country Serbia's eight-largest trade partner, Serbian Minister of Internal and External Trade Tomislav Momirovic said at a Balkan economic summit on Thursday.

That is additional motivation for Serbian companies to boost exports to the 80-million-consumer market, Momirovic said.

BELGRADE - EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi met with Serbian PM Milos Vucevic and the members of his cabinet on Tuesday morning to discuss "outstanding issues" of a reform agenda under an EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

The Foreign Ministry has said it "warmly welcomes the decision of the European Council to start the accession negotiations of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the European Union."

The European Commission is set to recommend that the EU open accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina, despite lingering ethnic divisions in the Western Balkan country. At the same time, US Special Representative to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar is also in the region.

On the eve of the summit, Vui assessed that connecting economies, removing obstacles and progressing towards a single market are "big goals that lead to the essential development" of Serbia and the region and a better future for all citizens.

TIRANA - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday Serbia would double its GDP to 140 or 150 bln euros over the next ten years.