Serbia, Slovenia pledge to improve economic cooperation

There is space to improve economic cooperation between Serbia and Slovenia, the leaders of both countries, Aleksandar Vucic and Miro Cerar, said here on Monday.

The two prime ministers made the statement after a joint government session held here on Monday which resulted in the signing of several agreements in areas of transport, culture and intellectual property.

Noting strong bilateral ties, Vucic said the trade balance between the two countries last year was 870 million euros (946 million U.S. dollars) and he expected it to exceed 1 billion euros soon.

According to him, Slovenian companies employ 25,000 people in Serbia with total investments so far reaching 1.2 billion euros.

Cerar said that Serbia is an "important part of the European family and a factor of stability in the Western Balkans."

Slovenia stands for the fastest possible opening of chapters in EU accession negotiations with Serbia, he said, adding that Serbia already receives help from Slovenian experts on this path.

Cerar said that Serbia performed well in reforming its economy which has created potential to improve economic cooperation even further.

The two countries initiated the process of simplification of border procedures in order to make travel time between Belgrade and Ljubljana by rail shorter.

A plan for cultural cooperation as well as better transport links within the EU strategy for the Danube region was discussed.(1 euro = 1.09 U.S. dollars) Enditem