Holy See, Serbia sign agreement on higher education

(Vatican Radio) The Holy See and the government of Serbia signed a framework agreement on Friday, which recognizes the right of the Catholic Church in Serbia to establish and direct institutions of higher learning for ecclesiastical disciplines, as well as for other disciplines.

The agreement confirms the principles and defines the provisions regarding the collaboration of both parties in the sector of higher education and provides for the promotion of direct contact between educational institutions.

The two parties will also work to standardize issues regarding the mutual recognition of academic degrees and documents attesting to higher education, and to stipulate protocols by which these activities, as well as organizational and financial conditions for implementation, shall be defined.

The agreement will come into effect once all of the legal requisites have been fulfilled and the final information is received by diplomatic means.

The agreement was signed by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, and by Serbian Vice-President and Minister of the Exterior Ivica Dacic.