(ANSA) - TRIESTE - Novi Sad, Vojvodina's capital city, is the first Serbian town to host a delegation of the European Union's Committee of the Regions, on the occasion of a meeting that gave a further sign of Serbia's commitment to making the reforms required for EU membership. The delegation of the Committee of the Regions - a press release issued by the regional council of Friuli Venezia Giulia reported - was led by Franco Iacop, chairman of the regional council of Friuli Venezia Giulia, who met with many institutional authorities of Vojvodina, the presidents of the Province Igor Mirovic, and the chairman of the Provincial Assembly Istvan Pasztor. Iacop praised this initiative, saying that many of the benefits of EU membership will be felt throughout Serbia, its cities and regions. Novi Sad's invitation - he added - shows that Serbia's national, provincial and local authorities understand that EU membership is a project that should involve everyone, since everyone can achieve positive results. The meeting today - added Iacop - is another sign of Serbia's and the EU's determination to carry out accession negotiations.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has repeatedly said in recent weeks that Serbia might join the EU by 2025 and the fourth Western Balkans summit held in Trieste in July confirmed that the countries within the region are now working much more closely together. ''These are very important steps - emphasized Iacop - Serbia needs a European prospect and the EU needs to know that Serbia is committed to regional stability: this meeting is therefore a sort of declaration on the need for good cooperation between national, provincial and local government levels in Serbia.

European legislation pays a lot of attention to the role of cities and regions, therefore, Serbia's successful accession to the EU will depend on having effective and efficient administrations at the provincial and municipal level''. ''Being a politician in a border region - Iacop said - I would like to point out that EU membership is an important opportunity for border regions and especially, for minorities''. Speaking about the role and the rights of national minorities, Iacop quoted the European Union's motto: ''Unity in Diversity''. Today we have also discussed the rights of national minorities - he said - and I have come to the conclusion that Vojvodina represents a case history of how different minorities can live together by sharing common values''.(ANSA).