Србија

Government: Republic; the province of  Kosovo has been under UN administration since 1999
Head of State: President Boris Tadić
Head of Government: Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica
Foreign Minister: Vuk Jeremić

Population: 7.7 million (without Kosovo)
Capital: Belgrade
Area: 88 361 km2
Currency: Dinar (CSD); 1 EUR= 82.52 CSD (Dec. 2006)

GDP in real terms: 20 billion euro (2005)
GDP per capita: 3 000 USD (2005)
Economic growth: 6.5% (2005)
Unemployment: 30%

Main export markets: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Italy, Germany, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Main exports: Finished products, food
Main source of imports: Germany, Russian Federation, Italy, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Main imports: Machinery, transport equipment, fuel and lubricants, textiles
Major economic sectors: Industry, farming, commerce

Serbia drawing closer to the EU

• 1996: Regional approach: the Council of the European Union establishes political and economic conditionality for the development of bilateral relations.
• 1999: The EU proposes a new Stabilization and Association Process (SAP) for five countries of South Eastern Europe, including the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
• October 2000: Fall of the Milosevic regime.
• June 2000: The Feira European Council states that all the SAP countries are potential candidates for EU membership.
• 2001: Start of the new CARDS programme, an EU programme specifically designed to provide financial assistance to the Stabilization and Association Process countries.
• July 2001: Launch of the EU - Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Consultative Task Force.
• March 2002: Signing of the Agreement on Principles of Relations between Serbia and Montenegro within the State Union.
• February 2003: Entry into force of the Constitutional Charter. The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro becomes the legal successor to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The State Union comprises the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Montenegro.
• June 2003: The Thessaloniki European Council confirms the Stabilization and Association Process as the EU policy for the Western Balkans. The EU perspective for these countries is confirmed.
• July 2003: Enhanced Permanent Dialogue replaces the format of the Consultative Task Force.
• June 2004: The Council of the European Union decides on a European Partnership for Serbia and Montenegro.
• October 2004: Twin-track approach – in accordance with the Constitutional Charter, negotiations are conducted with the State Union as well as with the constituent Republics, depending on the field of competence.
• April 2005: The European Commission concludes in its Feasibility Study that Serbia and Montenegro is ready to begin negotiations on a Stabilization and Association Agreement with the EU.
• October 2005: Commencement of negotiations on a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). These are conditional on unrestricted cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
• January 2006: The Council of the European Union decides on a revised European Partnership for Serbia and Montenegro.
• March 2006: The meeting of the EU's 25 Foreign Ministers with the states of the Western Balkans reconfirms the EU perspective for the SAP countries.
• May 2006: Negotiations on the SAA are interrupted indefinitely, as Belgrade is not cooperating fully with the ICTY.
• June 2006: Montenegro declares its independence after a successful referendum. The State Union no longer exists. Serbia becomes the sole successor state.
• July 2006: The mandate for the SAA negotiations is adapted to the new situation in international law. This gives the EU the authority to resume the SAA negotiations immediately after unrestricted cooperation with the ICTY has been confirmed.
• December 2006: The EU commences negotiations with Serbia on visa facilitation and repatriation agreements.

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