On July 7 2008, Serbia's prime minister designate Mirko Cvetkovic presented before Serbian parliament the official programme of the new Serbian cabinet and announced its members, the press service of the Serbian government said in a statement.

The key principles of the programme include commitment to a European future for Serbia, non-acceptance of the independence of Kosovo, strengthening the economy, increasing the social responsibility of the government, stepping up efforts to combat crime and corruption, as well as observing international law.

“One of the first moves of the new government will be to submit the Stabilisation and Association Agreement [with the European Union] to parliament for ratification,” Cvetkovic said. “The government’s main objective is for Serbia to gain EU candidate country status by the end of this year or by the beginning of next year,” he announced.

Cvetkovic also said that one of the priorities of the new cabinet will be to expand Serbia's ties with Russia. “In that respect, the ratification of the gas supply arrangement with Gazprom by Serbian parliament will be the first legislative initiative of the new government.”

At the same time, Serbia's cabinet will aim to develop its relations with the US and with other countries throughout the world, “in particular with China, India, countries of the Mediterranean basin and with the unallied countries, with which Serbia has had successful co-operation in the past,” Cvetkovic said.

“There is full consent among the coalition members that the new government will never recognise the independence of Kosovo and Metohija and that, in co-operation with other government bodies, it will undertake all legal and diplomatic measures so as to preserve Kosovo and Metohija as an integral part of the Republic of Serbia,” he said.

According to the programme, the main economic objectives of the Serbian government will be dynamic growth of the economy related activities, employment rate increase, improvement of the living standard of Serbia’s citizens and achieving a more even regional development.
 
The new Serbian government consists of the parties part of the Democratic Serbia (DS) led For a European Serbia coalition, the coalition around the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) and some ethnic minorities parties.

It has 24 portfolio ministers, one minister without portfolio, a first deputy prime minister along with three other deputy prime ministers. The first deputy prime minister, who is also interior minister, is SPS leader Ivica Dacic.

Serbian parliament will discuss the programme and the cabinet's composition before voting whether to approve them.