The Serbian Ambassador in Greece for Newsmax Balkans on the safety of tourists and economic cooperation

In an interview with the Newsmax Balkans portal, His Excellency Nikola Nedeljkovic talks about safety tips for Serbian tourists, new traffic regulations, increased taxes, as well as the Greek Government's new measures to protect tourist infrastructure, among other things.

We also touched on topics such as the flow of passengers at border crossings, the development of economic and trade exchange, the increasingly frequent visits of Greek tourists to Serbia, but also the importance of preserving the identity and unity of the Serbian diaspora in Greece.

The ambassador placed special emphasis on the role of the Serbian supplementary schools and the annual commemorations in Corfu and Zejtinlik - places where the history and brotherhood of our nations intersect most profoundly.

"First of all, I would like to draw the attention of our citizens who decide to spend their annual vacations in Greece to the latest amendments to the Traffic Law, which have significantly increased the penalties for various types of traffic violations. I will only mention a few specific examples. Penalties for violations such as not wearing a seat belt (even in the back seat) or using a mobile phone are now extremely high. Then, for example, exceeding the speed limit by 20 or 30 kilometers per hour entails the obligation of paying a fine of several hundred euros. Also, as of a few years ago, certain offenses, in addition to fines, also entail penalties in the form of revocation of a driver's license or removal and confiscation of license plates (which is increasingly common and noticeable even during the current season) for a period of 60 or 90 days, depending on the offense," said the ambassador, who took office in September last year.

He added that more detailed information about the new law and prescribed penalties, as well as general recommendations for our citizens during their stay in Greece, can be found on the website of the Embassy of Serbia in Athens.

"The Embassy of Serbia in Athens and the Consulate General of Serbia in Thessaloniki strive to be available to their citizens in every situation, but we must still ask all travelers to respect all the prescribed restrictions and prohibitions, so that their trip goes as smoothly as possible. I would also like to inform our citizens that the residence and environmental taxes for tourists in Greece have also been noticeably increased, especially as of this year. To be more precise, the taxes in question were introduced by the Greek government last year, and the latest changes took an even stricter form, and as such they are a part of the wider strategy of the Greek Government in terms of improving the sustainability of Greek tourism and responding to the growing challenges associated with climate change and the overcrowding of tourist destinations in this country, i.e. the consequences of very intense tourism," says Nedeljkovic in an interview with the Newsmax Balkans portal.

As he stated, after the serious natural disasters and emergency situations that had occurred recently, the Greek Government announced that part of the income from increased taxes is used for the reconstruction of local infrastructure, damage repair and prevention of future disasters.

"Also, the goal of increasing the mentioned fees is to regulate the influx of tourists, i.e. to relieve overloaded tourist destinations (such as the islands of Mykonos and Santorini) where the number of visitors greatly exceeds the capacity of the local infrastructure. As I have already mentioned, Greece, unfortunately, is often faced with natural disasters such as mass fires and floods. I would like to emphasize that Serbia, in the spirit of strong friendship, closeness and solidarity, is always ready to provide the necessary assistance to our Greek brothers. Thar was also the case during the previous year, when Greece was repeatedly hit by large forest fires," the Serbian diplomat reminded.

If a natural disaster should occur in Greece, it is important for our citizens to follow the instructions of the competent local authorities.

"In Greece, in cases where a natural disaster or a dangerous situation that could threaten life, health or safety is expected or ongoing, citizens receive warning messages on their mobile phones from the 112 line, which provide protective instructions and action measures. In addition, in case a direct threat or danger occurs, citizens should call the number for crisis situations - number 112. The Embassy of Serbia in Athens and the Consulate General in Thessaloniki have 24h hotlines for emergency situations and providing aid to our citizens in Greece," the Ambassador pointed out.

Evzones – a priority topic

When asked if there is a possibility of speeding up the flow of passengers at the border crossings during the summer season, especially at Evzones, through which the largest number of tourists from Serbia enter, the ambassador of our country pointed out that this issue was one of the priorities when assuming his duties in Athens.

"Given that the political relations between Serbia and Greece are exceptional, especially the relations between President Vucic and Prime Minister Mitsotakis, during the past almost at every meeting with Greek officials, this topic was regarded with exceptional importance, along with the topic we have already mentioned, which refers to tags. Namely, more than a million Serbian tourists spend their annual vacation in Greece. Although it is not possible to fully estimate this, it is assumed that Serbian tourists, during a single year in Greece, spend about one billion euros. The Embassy of Serbia in Athens used every possible opportunity to solve this issue in the best possible way. Among other things, as a result, the Minister of the Interior of Greece Teodoros Livanios presented a new conceptual solution for the Evzones border crossings with the assurance that the contractor will be selected by the end of this year, and that the construction work will be completed in 2026," recalls the highest representative of Serbian diplomacy in Greece.

Foto: Ustupljena fotografija

This issue, he adds, was also on the agenda of the recent meeting between the two prime ministers - Matsut and Mitsotakis, where Prime Minister Mitsotakis emphasized that the Greek government will invest 25 million euros in the Evzone border crossings.

"Just how important this issue is can be seen through the engagement of the Serbian Government. A mere few days ago, the Agreement between Serbia and North Macedonia was signed, where Minister Dacic signed an agreement on a new way of crossing the border with North Macedonia, the so-called "one stop", which enabled only stopping once at the state border between the two countries. As a result of all our activities (since September last year), on social networks and portals, as well as personal testimonies of our citizens who are in contact with the Embassy in Athens and the Consulate General in Thessaloniki - this year we have minimal waiting times at the Evzone border crossings," stated Nedeljkovic.

He also noted that until the end of the season, the embassy will be in constant contact with Greek colleagues and analyze the situation regarding the wait at the Evzone border crossing. Also, at the meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and Greece, it was agreed to appoint teams that will constantly monitor issues of greatest importance to our tourists.

Available 24 hours a day

Referring to the most common problems faced by Serbian tourists in Greece during the summer season and in which cases they can turn to the Embassy in Athens or the consular representation in Thessaloniki, Ambassador Nedeljkovic points out that citizens can always turn to the Serbian Embassy in Athens and the consular representation in Thessaloniki - not only during the tourist season, but all year round.

"As of this year, we are available to our citizens through social networks and hotlines that operate 24 hours a day. During the summer season, our citizens most often turn to us in case of loss or theft of travel documents or traffic violations as a result of which their license plates or driver's documents have been confiscated, as well as in the case of detention for serious offenses or crimes. The Embassy of Serbia in Athens and the Consulate General in Thessaloniki provide aid to our citizens in all emergencies, especially in the case of serious injuries, arrests, serious traffic accidents, protection of minors and natural disasters," the ambassador noted.

There are more and more Greek tourists in Serbia

Tourist exchange between Serbia and Greece shows growth from year to year, but mostly it concerns tourists from Serbia visiting Greece. Nedeljkovic also referred to directing Greek tourists to Serbia.

"In addition to the well-known fact that Serbian tourists most often choose to spend their vacations in Greece, I am extremely pleased to be able to state that, from year to year, the number of Greek tourists visiting Serbia has been increasing. More specifically, according to our data, in the past year, 2024, Serbia was visited by 74,543 tourists from Greece, which represents an increase of 5.9 percent compared to 2023. Also, there have been147,554 overnight stays, which represents an increase of 3.3 percent. I would like to emphasize that our national company Air Serbia, in addition to the existing regular routes, also introduced a direct flight to seven destinations, that is, to the island of Mykonos, which enabled our tourists to travel more easily not only to Mykonos, but also to the group of Cycladic islands which include the famous islands of Santorini and Milos. Additionally, I would like to inform you that there’s a plan to open a Consulate in Mykonos with an honorary consul leading it," announced the Serbian diplomat.

Foto: Ustupljena fotografija

In addition to regular lines for as many as seven destinations, he also offered a reminder that the national airline Air Serbia also operates charter flights for five additional destinations in Greece, which is considered very important for the further improvement of tourist traffic between these two countries.

"For Greek tourists that visit our country, the most popular is 'weekend' and spa tourism. In addition to visits to our capital city, numerous cultural and historical landmarks, archaeological sites and spa centers, Greek tourists, especially during the winter season, choose to visit winter wellness centers, primarily Kopaonik, so for a small number of Greek tourists, it has become a tradition to celebrate their Christmas Eves on this very mountain of ours. Bearing in mind the growing interest of tourists for more Serbian content and more authentic forms of travel, I would like to emphasize that we are actively working to bring Serbia closer to Greek tourists as a destination that offers rich content - from exceptional cultural and historical heritage, developed gastronomic and wine tourism, to religious tourism and visits to spiritual places that are significant for both of our Orthodox peoples," said the Serbian envoy in Athens.

Raise the exchange rate to one billion euros

When it comes to the economic cooperation between Serbia and Greece, Nedeljkovic specified that there is an unquestionable determination, shown by President Vucic and Prime Minister Mitsotakis, that the exceptional level of political relations be accompanied by an equal level of economic relations between our two countries.

"In this context, with Greece, from an economic point of view, we strive to first increase the volume of foreign trade exchange (although it is currently already growing), further strengthen cooperation in the field of tourism (especially when it comes to the increase in the number of Greek tourists arriving in Serbia, which I talked about previously), successfully implement joint and important infrastructure projects, as well as improve cooperation in the energy field. Our goal is to try to increase this exchange to one billion euros in the near future, which, alongside tourism, and fraternal and friendly relations, we would also have that economic note of two billion", presented Nedeljkovic.

In this context, he announced that in the organization of the Embassy of Serbia in Athens and with the cooperation of the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, the Union of Chambers of Commerce of Greece and the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade, a large Business Forum will be held at the end of September, which will, among other things, aim to help increase the foreign trade exchange to the aforementioned goals.

An invitation to participate in the Business Forum in September

"Something that is extremely significant is that Greece has officially confirmed its participation in the Specialized Exhibition EXPO 2027, which will be hosted by Belgrade, but also that Greek companies have shown a special interest in participating in this large infrastructure project. I would like to invite all interested Serbian companies to contact the Embassy, or me personally - to take part in the Business Forum that will be held at the end of September this year. I would also like to point out that during the meeting of the Minister Paunovic and Livaniosa, in addition to topics related to the cooperation of the two administrations and the exchange of experience in the field of digitization and public administration, the topic was also the twinning of cities and municipalities, which could result in better cooperation between regions and cities, but also provide an incentive for family businesses in Serbia and Greece," stated the Serbian emissary.

He expressed satisfaction that in the past year, record values were noted when it comes to the exchange of agricultural and food products between our two countries.

"When it comes to these kinds of products, we mostly export soybean oil, white sugar, and pet food to Greece. I would also like to point out the importance of the participation of Serbian agricultural and food companies in the relevant fairs held in Greece, which represent an exceptional opportunity to establish direct contacts and cooperation between our producers and distributors for the Greek market. Here I would also emphasize the significant role of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and regional chambers that encourage and support the participation of Serbian companies in the relevant fairs," notes Nedeljkovic.

Founding the Association of Serbs in Greece

The Ambassador of Serbia in Greece also referred to the number and activity of the Serbian community, emphasizing the preservation of our language, culture and connection with their motherland.

"In January of this year, for the first time in the Embassy, we had a reception for our diaspora on the occasion of celebrating the Serbian New Year. On that occasion, the minister in charge of the diaspora, Djordje Milicevic, was on an official visit to Athens, and he then talked with Greek officials and our fellow citizens. We do not have exact data on the number of the Serbian community in Greece, but in cooperation with the competent Ministry for the Diaspora, we are intensively working on the formation of the Association of Serbs in Greece. We will try to, with the help of the Government of Serbia, implement certain projects that would not only bring the Serbs living on the territory of Greece closer to their motherland, but also bind the two nations more tightly," he underlined.

As a particularly important gathering place for our citizens, the ambassador mentioned Serbian supplementary schools, which hold classes throughout Greece.

"Approximately 350 Serbian children in Athens, Thessaloniki, Volos, Larisa, Katerina, Leptokarija and Crete attend Serbian classes and study three subjects: the Serbian language, My Homeland Serbia and Basics of Serbian Culture. Teaching in Serbian supplementary schools takes place according to the program of the Ministry of Education, which was designed for our children abroad, with the aim of developing a sense of belonging and preserving their roots, Serbian language and culture. One curiosity is that two children who attend the Serbian supplementary school have Muslim parents from Bosnia," Nedeljkovic emphasized.

Marking the anniversary of the Serbian army arriving to Corfu

The Embassy of Serbia in Athens, he adds, is very committed to the implementation of activities on this plan together with the Consulate General in Thessaloniki, but also the honorary consuls in Corfu, Crete and Kefalonia, where the famous artistic ensemble of the Ministry of Defense of Serbia, "Stanislav Binicki", recently performed.

"Here, I would like to highlight the role of the Hilandar monastery, not only in the relations between the two countries and two peoples, but also its role in the identity of the Serbian people as a whole. We strive to gather our compatriots on all appropriate occasions, especially when celebrating important national and religious holidays. I would like to remind you that in the last period, the Embassy of Serbia in Athens has hosted several ceremonies for our compatriots, including the occasion of the beginning and end of the school year for the students of the Serbian supplementary schools, commemoration of Armistice Day in the First World War, and the Serbian New Year. We also celebrated several religious holidays together in Athens – most recently, Vidovdan," the ambassador said.

In the end, adds Nedeljkovic, one must never forget "something that is important for all Serbs, wherever they are".

"In addition to Hilandar, all Serbs in the world have a special pilgrimage to Greece every year, and that is marking the anniversary of the Serbian army arriving on the island of Corfu and Vido. In addition, last year, in September, we left a monument to Djordje Mihajlovic - the custodian of the Serbian military cemetery in Zejtinlik. This September, at this same holy place, we will pay tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom. On this occasion, I would like to invite all those who are reading this interview to come to Greece in September this year to commemorate something that we must never forget, the people whose sacrifices and heroism we remember with pride, but also the hospitality of the Greek people, which we must not stop respecting as long as we live," concludes Mr. E. Ambassador of Serbia in Greece Nikola Nedeljkovic.

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