Croatia's Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and Deputy Prime Minister Neven Mimica in Zagreb on Monday met separately with the visiting Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Aleksandar Vucic.

They exchanged views on bilateral relations between the two countries and the current situation in the countries of southeastern Europe. They noted that relations between Croatia and Serbia were crucial for the region and that it was therefore necessary to further promote cooperation between the two countries and speed up the resolution of all outstanding issues. They also emphasised the need to promote cooperation in the economic sector, judiciary, transport and other important areas of common interest, according to a government statement.

The statement said that Croatia's forthcoming accession to the European Union would provide a clear encouragement for the membership prospects of other countries in the region and would contribute to the credibility of the EU enlargement process based on the fulfilment of membership criteria.

Mimica, who is to take up the post of European Commissioner for Consumer Protection, said that Croatia supported Serbia on its path to European integration and in the implementation of necessary reforms. He welcomed the European Commission's recommendation to open accession negotiations with Serbia and reiterated Croatia's readiness to share its experience from the accession process with other membership aspirants from the region.

(Hina)