Italy and Serbia signed two energy accords on Friday during a visit to the Italian capital Rome by Serbian president Boris Tadic.

Italy is one of Serbia's biggest trading partners and the accords follow an agreement by the two countries earlier this year to launch a strategic partnership in the energy sector, particularly to promote renewable energy.

The first of the two accords signed on Friday allows Italy to import electricity from Serbia and increases industrial cooperation between Italy's energy operator Terna and Serbian power grid operator EMS.

The accord will boost the Serbian power grid's capacity and strengthen energy infrastructure with neighbouring countries such as Montenegro via which energy is imported to Italy.

Under the second accord, Italy and Serbia recognise each other's renewable energy certification systems. The accord creates a joint government-private sector 'Task Force' to monitor the implementation of projects.