Rehn: Serbia an EU Candidate in 2009

20 October 2008 Brussels _ The European Union's Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has reiterated at a Serbia-EU business forum his conviction that Serbia might get candidate status next year.

"We haven't yet reached the 'end of history' in the Western Balkans and I am convinced that 2009 can be a year of clear progress for the whole region towards Europe," Rehn said.

"Serbia obviously holds a central place in this agenda and I believe that, if conditions are met, it could get candidate status next year."

During his key note speech at the conference on Serbian Business and European Integration held on Monday in Brussels, Rehn stressed that the business community has a central role to play to help realising the European perspective of the Western Balkans region.

"You are the ones that can really push the reforms forward," Rehn said.

The conference gathered various Serbian businessmen and experts in a meeting sponsored by the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and also the chief of Delta Holdings, Miroslav Miskovic.

The conference aims to tackle the theme of the influence of EU integration on the Serbian economy, the role of industry in promoting regional and European integration, and the challenges and opportunities for foreign investors in Serbia.

Rehn stated that Serbia is already a natural spot for investments: it has a strategic location in the centre of the Balkans with a relatively strong economy, a productive and skilled workforce and an infrastructure which is improving.

However, he mentioned that the Serbian business climate faces many challenges.

"Free trade and market access are essential for trade and investments. But lowering tariffs is not enough. For any potential investor a stable, transparent and predictable legal and administrative environment is also crucial when choosing the best investment location," Rehn said.