Brussels, 25/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Union/Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Consultative Group, set up to prepare negotiations over a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), held its first meeting in Belgrade on Monday. According to a European Commission press release, the two parties discussed the stabilisation and association process before broaching the economic and political reform process in Yugoslavia. Joint recommendations are now to be drawn up. A further meeting will be organised in a few months to assess the follow-up to these recommendations and push forward with discussions. "The integration process in the European Union means consequential reforms, democratisation and the country's reconstruction (…) Today, we are initiating a new process to formalise ties with the EU", declared Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, quoted by the Yugoslav Government's press services.