Source: "Danas"
Conditions for issuing of new passports met in only four of 66 diplomatic and consular missions of Serbia
Belgrade - Most of the public authorities of Serbia exceeded the deadlines set by the Government's Action Plan for Liberalization of Visa Regime with the EU, but 90 percent of the work has been or will soon be finished, which will create conditions for he visa waiver regime to become a reality for Serbian citizens by the end of this year.
After Commissioner for Information of Public Importance Rodoljub Sabic had passed a binding ruling, daily paper "Danas" received from the Ministry of Internal Affairs a document named Information on Situation and Planned Activities of the Republic of Serbia until April 2009 aimed at Liberalization of Visa Regime with the EU, which has been treated as a secret since the Government adopted it on a session in December last year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs lags behind at this moment in the realization of duties it assumed under the Action Plan more than any other body. The Government entrusted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to "implement preparations and create necessary conditions for acquisition of information and receipt of requests for issuing passports of the Republic of Serbia in diplomatic and consular missions of Serbia in foreign countries" by April 2009. As "Danas" learned from the Serbian Government, this was done in only four of 66 diplomatic and consular missions. If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues working at this pace, it will be extremely difficult to adhere to the deadline set under the Action Plan, said the sources of "Danas".
Associate of the ISAC Fund Milan Pajevic said to "Danas" that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could adhere to this deadline if it really applies itself.
- Taking into account the fact that this has not been the practice so far, I am not sure that the deadlines will be observed. Adoption of laws, strategies and action plans is an easier part of work, while their implementation is much more difficult and important. Those laws and strategies should be implemented in such a way to make expert missions sent by the EU satisfied. Conditions which should be met for Serbia to qualify for visa waiver regime with the EU have been known for years and not just for one year, since we received the Road Map. Only efficient and serious commitment may lead us to inclusion in the visa waiver regime with the EU - Mr. Pajevic explained.
According to him, taking into account the way the National Assembly of Serbia and most of the administration had worked, it was obvious that they had not been operating at full capacity for years.
President of the European Movement in Serbia Zivorad Kovacevic did not want to predict whether the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could fulfil its duties regarding visa waiver regime with the EU by April.
- Our public authorities worked intolerably slow, but now they operate obviously faster. I believe that Serbia will manage to qualify for visa waiver regime with the EU because it is the only thing Brussels can do for us at this moment. This decision does not require consensus and it would be their symbolic gesture of support - Mr. Kovacevic said to "Danas".
As sources close to the Government and the European Commission said to "Danas", even if ministries had fulfilled their duties on time, Serbia would not have been included in the visa waiver regime with the EU in the first half of this year. As it was explained to us, the European Commission operates at its own pace and it adheres to the plan developed in the first meetings between Serbian officials and the EC in connection with visa regime liberalization.
Action Plan is no longer State Secret
Daily paper "Danas" received from the Ministry of Internal Affairs a document named Information on the Situation and Planned Activities of the Republic of Serbia until April 2009 aimed at Liberalization of Visa Regime with the EU. This document, which the Government adopted on 11 December, lists measures which certain ministries have to take within their spheres of competence so Serbia could qualify for visa waiver regime with the EU. Those are the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Health, as well as the Commissariat for Refugees.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs classified this document as a state secret right after it was adopted. Considering that citizens of Serbia have the right to know what duties their country should perform and when it should perform them in order to be included in the visa waiver regime with the EU, "Danas" complained to the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance. Commissioner Rodoljub Sabic passed last week a binding ruling on removal of confidentiality mark from the Action Plan. Mr. Sabic stated in the rationale of his decision that the Ministry of Internal Affairs overestimated the importance of agreement with the EC. The Ministry of Internal Affairs complied with that ruling.
