(english / italiano)
La Serbia che piace ai poteri italiani
1) Frattini sarà consigliere del governo serbo / Dassù (Esteri), forte appoggio per ingresso Belgrado in UE (ANSA)
2) Serbian Government reveals "measures for reform of economy" [il governo in Serbia annuncia tagli salariali generalizzati]
=== 1 ===
Frattini sarà consigliere del governo serbo
www.ansa.it - 7 ottobre 2013 - L’ex ministro degli esteri Franco Frattini sarà uno dei consiglieri stranieri del governo serbo. Lo ha detto il vicepremier Aleksandar Vucic. Nei giorni scorsi Belgrado aveva annunciato l’assunzione, in qualità di consiglieri, dell’ex direttore generale dell’Fmi Dominique Strauss-Kahn e dell’ex cancelliere austriaco Alfred Gusenbauer. “Sono pronto a far tesoro dell’esperienza di Franco Frattini, Alfred Gusenbauer e Dominique Strauss-Kahn”, ha detto Vucic al canale televisivo privato Prva.
Frattini, che è presidente della Società italiana per l’organizzazione internazionale (SIOI), è il candidato del governo italiano alla carica di segretario generale della Nato.
Vucic ha detto che lui personalmente condurrà la consulenza con Frattini, che non percepirà alcun compenso. “Frattini aiuterà il governo serbo nel processo di integrazione europea, in modo particolare per quanto riguarda i capitoli 23 e 24 dei negoziati di adesione - ha precisato Vucic - Il governo serbo è convinto che Frattini, con le sue proposte e le sue attività, offrirà al meglio assistenza e appoggio alla Serbia nel processo di adesione all’Unione europea. Frattini - conclude la dichiarazione - ha accettato l’invito del governo, e presterà la sua consulenza senza alcun compenso e attraverso contatti personali con il primo vicepremier Aleksandar Vucic”.
www.ansa.it - 7 ottobre 2013 - L’ex ministro degli esteri Franco Frattini sarà uno dei consiglieri stranieri del governo serbo. Lo ha detto il vicepremier Aleksandar Vucic. Nei giorni scorsi Belgrado aveva annunciato l’assunzione, in qualità di consiglieri, dell’ex direttore generale dell’Fmi Dominique Strauss-Kahn e dell’ex cancelliere austriaco Alfred Gusenbauer. “Sono pronto a far tesoro dell’esperienza di Franco Frattini, Alfred Gusenbauer e Dominique Strauss-Kahn”, ha detto Vucic al canale televisivo privato Prva.
Frattini, che è presidente della Società italiana per l’organizzazione internazionale (SIOI), è il candidato del governo italiano alla carica di segretario generale della Nato.
Vucic ha detto che lui personalmente condurrà la consulenza con Frattini, che non percepirà alcun compenso. “Frattini aiuterà il governo serbo nel processo di integrazione europea, in modo particolare per quanto riguarda i capitoli 23 e 24 dei negoziati di adesione - ha precisato Vucic - Il governo serbo è convinto che Frattini, con le sue proposte e le sue attività, offrirà al meglio assistenza e appoggio alla Serbia nel processo di adesione all’Unione europea. Frattini - conclude la dichiarazione - ha accettato l’invito del governo, e presterà la sua consulenza senza alcun compenso e attraverso contatti personali con il primo vicepremier Aleksandar Vucic”.
---
Dassù (Esteri), forte appoggio per ingresso Belgrado in UE
www.ansa.it - 9 ottobre 2013 - L’Italia appoggia con forza l’ingresso della Serbia nell’Unione europea, e al vertice bilaterale in programma il 15 ottobre ad Ancona offrirà a Belgrado anche un supporto tecnico per affrontare alcuni dei capitoli negoziali. Lo ha detto il viceministro degli esteri, Marta Dassù, in visita oggi nella capitale serba.
Parlando con i giornalisti in una pausa dei colloqui, Dassù ha fatto riferimento alla consulenza che l’ex ministro degli esteri Franco Frattini ha accettato di offrire al vicepremier serbo Aleksandar Vucic sulla tematica europea, in modo particolare sui capitoli negoziali 23 e 24. Una consulenza, ha osservato, “gratuita e basata sulla stima personale di Vucic per l’ex commissario europeo. Naturalmente in questo Franco Frattini ha l’appoggio del governo italiano”, ha detto Dassù, che ha incontrato il premier serbo Ivica Dacic, il vicepremier Aleksandar Vucic e il ministro degli esteri Ivan Mrkic.
Uno dei temi in agenda al vertice intergovernativo di Ancona, ha precisato Dassù, è quello della Macroregione Adriatico-Ionica. Per questo alla vigilia del summit, il 14 ottobre, si riunirà ad Ancona il tavolo tecnico che l’Italia presiede con la Serbia su infrastrutture e trasporti, uno dei grandi capitoli di questa cooperazione regionale. Dei risultati di tale riunione tecnica verrà riferito al vertice.
“Stiamo mettendo a punto il piano d’azione che dovrà essere approvato dal Consiglio europeo nel dicembre 2014, a conclusione del semestre di presidenza italiana”. È importante, ha rilevato Dassù, che della Macroregione Adriatico-Ionica facciano parte Paesi che appartengono alla Ue e altri che sono invece fuori: “Ciò facilita una armonizzazione degli standard”.
Il viceministro degli Esteri ha indicato due ragioni che hanno reso di particolare interesse la sua visita odierna a Belgrado: l’accordo raggiunto a Bruxelles fra i premier Ivica Dacic e Hashim Thaci, che “ha consentito di risolvere alcuni problemi aperti prima delle elezioni locali del 3 novembre in Kosovo” (“progressi sono ancora necessari per completare l’attuazione dell’accordo di aprile, ma l’Italia è fiduciosa”), e l’approvazione da parte del governo serbo di un pacchetto di misure economiche, importanti anche per migliorare in prospettiva il clima economico generale.
Cosa questa che interessa all’Italia che ha 500 imprese italiane che operano in Serbia. Marta Dassù ha detto al tempo stesso di aver spiegato ai suoi interlocutori serbi “che l’Italia ha rafforzato la sua solidità politica interna, fattore importante in vista della presidenza di turno della Ue che il nostro Paese avrà nella seconda metà del 2014!”.
Parlando con i giornalisti in una pausa dei colloqui, Dassù ha fatto riferimento alla consulenza che l’ex ministro degli esteri Franco Frattini ha accettato di offrire al vicepremier serbo Aleksandar Vucic sulla tematica europea, in modo particolare sui capitoli negoziali 23 e 24. Una consulenza, ha osservato, “gratuita e basata sulla stima personale di Vucic per l’ex commissario europeo. Naturalmente in questo Franco Frattini ha l’appoggio del governo italiano”, ha detto Dassù, che ha incontrato il premier serbo Ivica Dacic, il vicepremier Aleksandar Vucic e il ministro degli esteri Ivan Mrkic.
Uno dei temi in agenda al vertice intergovernativo di Ancona, ha precisato Dassù, è quello della Macroregione Adriatico-Ionica. Per questo alla vigilia del summit, il 14 ottobre, si riunirà ad Ancona il tavolo tecnico che l’Italia presiede con la Serbia su infrastrutture e trasporti, uno dei grandi capitoli di questa cooperazione regionale. Dei risultati di tale riunione tecnica verrà riferito al vertice.
“Stiamo mettendo a punto il piano d’azione che dovrà essere approvato dal Consiglio europeo nel dicembre 2014, a conclusione del semestre di presidenza italiana”. È importante, ha rilevato Dassù, che della Macroregione Adriatico-Ionica facciano parte Paesi che appartengono alla Ue e altri che sono invece fuori: “Ciò facilita una armonizzazione degli standard”.
Il viceministro degli Esteri ha indicato due ragioni che hanno reso di particolare interesse la sua visita odierna a Belgrado: l’accordo raggiunto a Bruxelles fra i premier Ivica Dacic e Hashim Thaci, che “ha consentito di risolvere alcuni problemi aperti prima delle elezioni locali del 3 novembre in Kosovo” (“progressi sono ancora necessari per completare l’attuazione dell’accordo di aprile, ma l’Italia è fiduciosa”), e l’approvazione da parte del governo serbo di un pacchetto di misure economiche, importanti anche per migliorare in prospettiva il clima economico generale.
Cosa questa che interessa all’Italia che ha 500 imprese italiane che operano in Serbia. Marta Dassù ha detto al tempo stesso di aver spiegato ai suoi interlocutori serbi “che l’Italia ha rafforzato la sua solidità politica interna, fattore importante in vista della presidenza di turno della Ue che il nostro Paese avrà nella seconda metà del 2014!”.
=== 2 ===
POLITICS | OCTOBER 8, 2013 | 13:17
Govt. reveals "measures for reform of economy"
BELGRADE -- The government has announced it will reduce the salary mass, raise the lower VAT rate to 10%, cut subsidies, make savings on goods, and use "cheaper loans."
In addition, the government measures presented on Tuesday by Finance Minister Lazar Krstić envisage "changing the business environment."
Krstić unveiled the measures during an open session of the government, held in Belgrade.
Starting in 2014, public sector salaries now over RSD 60,000 (EUR 525) will be reduced by cutting 20 percent of the amount over 60,000, and those exceeding RSD 100,000 (EUR 870) by 25 percent, according to the same calculation.
Krstić explained that this means that a person now earning 70,000 net - will be receiving 68,000 net after the measures have been introduced.
Referring to the latest data from the register of public sector employees, the minister said that there was "still no accurate and definitive data" on the number of employees in the sector, and that it was "between 660,000 and 700,000 people."
He announced a significant reduction of state subsidies, which will bring the biggest savings in the budget and the completion of privatization of 179 enterprises and restructuring of large public systems. He said that subsidies provided by the state were twice as high as "in other countries."
Krstić then noted that Serbia was "going to the EU" and that it cannot provide state assistance to any other sector except agriculture and railways.
Krstić said that the proposed measures were primarily related to the economy, however, the open government session was not attended by Minister of Economy Saša Radulović.
Radulović was instead attending a meeting in the Serbian Chamber of Commerce on ways to "professionalize" the work of public enterprises.
Krstić announced that the lowest VAT rate would be raised from eight to ten percent for "non-existential products."
The increase will hike the consumer basket to RSD 65,450 from the current 65,000.
"It should provide around EUR 200 million annually, while another EUR 150 million would go into the budget by reducing the gray economy, smuggling and illegal tobacco trafficking," he noted.
Besides the activities against the gray economy, Krstić also announced the introduction of standardized electronic forms, online control of fiscal receipts, more control on the ground and a thorough reorganization of the Tax Administration.
Another of the announced measures mentioned is the use of cheaper foreign loans, which the minister said would be obtained "primarily via bilateral contacts and diplomatic relations."
"In this way, we admit that we are sick and start the recovery using the measures and political unity behind the proposed moves," said Krstić.
He also told the government session that Serbia's economic and fiscal policies over the past ten years "had been irresponsible and lacked transparency," and added:
"The problem was not that Serbia's debt was growing, as all countries increase their debt in times of crisis, but the fact that the funds were used to cover current expenses, while there were not enough brave moves necessary for economic recovery."
Krstić announced structural reforms to would be further discussed in 2014, while the effects of the measures are expected in 2015. The Serbian government will invest efforts to improve the business environment considerably, which is why amendments to legal regulations, primarily the Labor Law, will have to be adopted, Krstić stated on Tuesday.
He said that changes in certain laws, especially the Labor Law, were necessary so as to ensure "more flexible" hiring and sacking of workers.
He noted that Serbia will have to change the model of infrastructural investments, which means that the government will not longer be able to act as the financier.
“One of the models will cover partnerships between the public and private sectors, and we will try to make sure that local companies do the biggest share of the work,” Krstić said.
He noted that the procedures for issuing construction permits would be simplified and that the Finance Ministry will have to significantly change the regulations concerning fees and make the entire process more transparent. He said that this will help Serbia improve its business environment, which is very important for attracting foreign investments.
Announcing the necessary increase in the social protection spending when it comes to the most vulnerable population, the minister said it would be by 50 percent and amount to EUR 60 million, and that "the reform of the public administration would follow."
The pension system reform would also continue, "along with a further indexing of pensions in 2015 and 2016 of 0.5 percent, twice a year."
Krstić said the government planned to, by 2020, move the retirement age for men and women closer, so that women would retire at 63, and men when they are 65 years old.
The budget deficit is now 4.7 percent, while IMF estimates range up to eight percent, he revealed. At the same time the public debt ranges from 58 to 60 percent, Krstić warned.
"Without these measures, we would go bankrupt in the next two years," said Krstić.
The minister also announced another revision of the state budget for 2013, "because revenues will be reduced by 20 billion" compared to the planned figure.
Krstić unveiled the measures during an open session of the government, held in Belgrade.
Starting in 2014, public sector salaries now over RSD 60,000 (EUR 525) will be reduced by cutting 20 percent of the amount over 60,000, and those exceeding RSD 100,000 (EUR 870) by 25 percent, according to the same calculation.
Krstić explained that this means that a person now earning 70,000 net - will be receiving 68,000 net after the measures have been introduced.
Referring to the latest data from the register of public sector employees, the minister said that there was "still no accurate and definitive data" on the number of employees in the sector, and that it was "between 660,000 and 700,000 people."
He announced a significant reduction of state subsidies, which will bring the biggest savings in the budget and the completion of privatization of 179 enterprises and restructuring of large public systems. He said that subsidies provided by the state were twice as high as "in other countries."
Krstić then noted that Serbia was "going to the EU" and that it cannot provide state assistance to any other sector except agriculture and railways.
Krstić said that the proposed measures were primarily related to the economy, however, the open government session was not attended by Minister of Economy Saša Radulović.
Radulović was instead attending a meeting in the Serbian Chamber of Commerce on ways to "professionalize" the work of public enterprises.
Krstić announced that the lowest VAT rate would be raised from eight to ten percent for "non-existential products."
The increase will hike the consumer basket to RSD 65,450 from the current 65,000.
"It should provide around EUR 200 million annually, while another EUR 150 million would go into the budget by reducing the gray economy, smuggling and illegal tobacco trafficking," he noted.
Besides the activities against the gray economy, Krstić also announced the introduction of standardized electronic forms, online control of fiscal receipts, more control on the ground and a thorough reorganization of the Tax Administration.
Another of the announced measures mentioned is the use of cheaper foreign loans, which the minister said would be obtained "primarily via bilateral contacts and diplomatic relations."
"In this way, we admit that we are sick and start the recovery using the measures and political unity behind the proposed moves," said Krstić.
He also told the government session that Serbia's economic and fiscal policies over the past ten years "had been irresponsible and lacked transparency," and added:
"The problem was not that Serbia's debt was growing, as all countries increase their debt in times of crisis, but the fact that the funds were used to cover current expenses, while there were not enough brave moves necessary for economic recovery."
Krstić announced structural reforms to would be further discussed in 2014, while the effects of the measures are expected in 2015. The Serbian government will invest efforts to improve the business environment considerably, which is why amendments to legal regulations, primarily the Labor Law, will have to be adopted, Krstić stated on Tuesday.
He said that changes in certain laws, especially the Labor Law, were necessary so as to ensure "more flexible" hiring and sacking of workers.
He noted that Serbia will have to change the model of infrastructural investments, which means that the government will not longer be able to act as the financier.
“One of the models will cover partnerships between the public and private sectors, and we will try to make sure that local companies do the biggest share of the work,” Krstić said.
He noted that the procedures for issuing construction permits would be simplified and that the Finance Ministry will have to significantly change the regulations concerning fees and make the entire process more transparent. He said that this will help Serbia improve its business environment, which is very important for attracting foreign investments.
Announcing the necessary increase in the social protection spending when it comes to the most vulnerable population, the minister said it would be by 50 percent and amount to EUR 60 million, and that "the reform of the public administration would follow."
The pension system reform would also continue, "along with a further indexing of pensions in 2015 and 2016 of 0.5 percent, twice a year."
Krstić said the government planned to, by 2020, move the retirement age for men and women closer, so that women would retire at 63, and men when they are 65 years old.
The budget deficit is now 4.7 percent, while IMF estimates range up to eight percent, he revealed. At the same time the public debt ranges from 58 to 60 percent, Krstić warned.
"Without these measures, we would go bankrupt in the next two years," said Krstić.
The minister also announced another revision of the state budget for 2013, "because revenues will be reduced by 20 billion" compared to the planned figure.