Serbia’s asylum policy still does not comply with the EU standards, and its priorities should be the adoption of a new law on asylum and the provision of capacities to meet the housing needs of asylum seekers, it was concluded in the panel discussion titled “Asylum in Serbia – problems and perspectives” organised by Belgrade’s weekly VREME within EU-funded project Sights Set on European Law: Refugees and Asylum Seekers.

Marking the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of European Union, Embassy of Greece, together with the EU Delegation to Serbia and EU Info Centre, has organised a Greek Film Week that takes place from April 23-28 in Yugoslav Film Archive and Dom Omladine in Belgrade.

Serbia has been the main beneficiary of the loans given by European Investment Bank (EIB), as it received 4.3 billion euros since 2001. The largest amount, 36%, has been invested in transport sector and 34% were loans for small and medium enterprises (SME). Industry was boosted by 12 % and health and education by seven percent of the total amount.

The European Commission has launched a writing competition entitled “What does an enlarged EU mean to you?” targeting young people…

Serbia needs to make more efforts in the field of electronic communications, information society and media on its way towards EU membership, in particularly the digitalisation process, which the European Union has already supported with more than 10 million Euros.

Progress in the area of protection of competition is key for Serbia’s integration into the European Union, the EU Delegation’s Head of Economy and European Integration Section Freek Janmaat said on the Competition Day.

Serbia faces key reforms that are important for the future of the accession talks with the EU and the next government is expected to conduct the reforms efficiently, the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said.

The European Union expects Serbia to conduct all reform action plans, said Ambassador Michael Davenport after the meeting with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić.

Following threats sent to the Gay Straight Alliance, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport and US Ambassador Michael Kirby visited the GSA and talked to its activists. Ambassador Davenport condemned “the truly horrifying death threats” sent to GSA, and expressed the EU Delegation’s support to this organisation.

The European Commission has decided to create a Support group for Ukraine aimed at helping Ukrainian authorities to have all the support they need to undertake reforms needed to stabilise the country.