CEFTA meeting in Belgrade, Economy Ministers of Montenegro and Serbia discuss improving economic cooperation

The CEFTA 2006 Joint Committee session held today, November 12, 2010 in Belgrade gathered Economy Ministers of the member states and discussed joint infrastructure projects, removal of economic barriers and creating of free trade zone, agriculture policies liberalisation, and sustainable development.

Minister of Economy Branko Vujovic said that Montenegro looks forward to other CEFTA member-states future EU candidacies that will improve regional stability and prosperity as an addition to good cooperation in existing and planned regional projects under CEFTA, and voiced Montenegro’s full support to this and other regional cooperation mechanisms.

In a separate meeting, Ministers of Economy of Montenegro and Serbia discussed ways to improve economic cooperation in various areas.

Minister Branko Vujovic agreed with his Serbian counterpart Mladjan Dinkic to form by year’s end an inter-governmental commission for economic cooperation in accordance with the Agreement on Economic Cooperation signed earlier. They also initiated the mutual recognition of certificates, which will lead to the removal of non-tariff barriers and accordingly to the free flow of goods.

Minister Vujović announced the activities related to projects in sectors of energy and transportation infrastructure, that will further improve already excellent economic relations with Serbia, Montenegro’s largest foreign trade partner.

The Ministers put special emphasis on regional cooperation in transportation infrastructure projects that will, according to them, bring about faster and more efficient economic integration and positioning of the region on the European market.