Mali: Team for Western Balkans growth plan established

BELGRADE - Serbian Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said on Wednesday a team for the EU's 2024-2027 Western Balkans growth plan had been set up to enable Serbia to cooperate within the region and with the EU more closely.

"As Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has announced in Tirana, with Minister for European Integration Tanja Miscevic we have formed a team for the Western Balkans Growth Plan, which will enable us to cooperate within the region and with the EU more closely," Mali wrote in a post on his Instagram account.

He said the plan envisioned a series of necessary reforms and financial support from the EU.

"The objective of our team, which also held its initial meeting today, will be to carry out all necessary activities in the most efficient possible way," he added.

He noted that the focus would be on establishing a regional single market and getting closer to the EU market.

That will be very important for our citizens but, above all, for our business ties with the EU, he added.

Mali said the discussion topics included access to the Single Euro Payments Area, which he noted would mean lower commission fees and faster cross-border payments.

"At an accelerated pace, we are also working on green lanes to tackle delays at road and railway border crossings in freight transport of exported and imported goods," Mali also wrote.