Minister Đurić presents Visa Policy Legislation to the National Assembly

Minister Đurić explained that these agreements are with countries with which Serbia has been intensifying cooperation in recent years and that the proposed legislation reflects Serbia’s ambition to continue the long-standing tradition—initiated generations ago—of fostering and developing relations with countries and peoples across the globe.

The adoption of these laws, he added, is in the interest of Serbia’s foreign and economic policy and is part of the broader effort to safeguard Serbia’s key national interests, particularly regarding Kosovo and Metohija.

“The Republic of Serbia today enjoys an impressive network of friends on the international stage. The strength and influence of this network have been demonstrated to the Serbian public during some of the most critical moments in our recent history. One such example is the defense of our national interests concerning the resolution which, had it been adopted last spring, would have sought to stigmatize our entire nation and deepen internal divisions along national and other lines,” said Đurić.

He emphasized that Serbia would continue to pursue a nationally responsible policy of open dialogue, with the aim of contributing to overall stability—an essential condition for broader societal development. At the same time, Serbia will persist in conducting an independent foreign policy focused on the protection of its interests, particularly regarding Kosovo and Metohija, the status and rights of Serbs in the region, Serbia’s accession to the European Union, and other key national priorities.

The proposed laws, he noted, are also significant in the context of organizing the specialized Expo 2027 exhibition and Serbia’s intention to welcome representatives from as many countries as possible to Belgrade.

“For this reason, we will continue to present such conclusions and legislative proposals before you, because our goal is to bring to Serbia the widest possible range of political, economic, cultural, and other representatives from across the globe,” Đurić stated.

During the current extraordinary session of the National Assembly, the following agreements on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports are being considered: São Tomé and Príncipe, Togo, the Maldives, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, Uzbekistan, Ghana, Nepal, the Republic of the Congo, Tajikistan, Eswatini, and Saint Lucia.

On this occasion, the Foreign Minister also underlined the importance of launching the e-visa system and announced plans to expand Serbia’s diplomatic and consular network, as well as to improve the Ministry’s human resources through a public competition entitled “Be a Serbian Diplomat.”

“It is important for both citizens and members of parliament to know that we are implementing all of this with the lowest per capita cost compared to any country in our immediate region. In other words, our investment in such a diplomatic service is more economical than in any neighboring state,” Đurić stated.

Minister Đurić also invited MPs to support the Draft Law on Air Protection, which emerged from the need to align Serbia’s legal framework with updated European Union regulations. The law aims to ensure a much more transparent and efficient system for environmental protection and significantly higher standards for air quality preservation.

Recalling that more than five hundred proposals and initiatives were received during the public consultation process—over two hundred of which were adopted—Đurić highlighted that the new law will professionalize the air quality measurement process and introduce an obligation to provide timely information to all stakeholders.

“The law sets out a much clearer, stricter, and more precise obligation to inform the public, so that citizens can quickly and clearly receive all relevant data on air quality. Penalty provisions have also been expanded, which is highly significant,” Minister Đurić explained.