Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić visited Brussels for a one-day trip, during which he attended a working dinner with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The meeting began at 6 PM, and according to a correspondent from EUpravo Zato on-site, Vučić addressed the media immediately after his talks with European officials.
"The focus tonight was Serbia’s European path — that was the main topic. I am deeply honoured that both today's meetings and those last week have demonstrated how much Serbia is valued in Europe. We discussed European integration and the opening of new negotiation clusters. It is entirely realistic for two clusters to be opened this year, which is great news," the president stated.
Talks also covered the political situation in the region, the importance of maintaining stability and peace, economic matters, as well as the reforms Serbia needs to implement in the area of rule of law.
"We also discussed the economy, investments, the EU’s interest in mineral resources, and joint projects with Serbia. We talked about the defence industry and the funding opportunities the EU has outlined. We already have some so-called white papers signed, so we need to explore how we can secure more investments in our defence industry factories," Vučić added.
Ursula von der Leyen: Serbia’s future lies in the EU
Shortly after the working dinner, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a statement, calling the meeting highly significant.
"The country needs to deliver on EU reforms, in particular to take decisive steps towards media freedom, the fight against corruption and the electoral reform. Serbia’s future lies in the EU" she stated on the social media platform X.
This meeting comes just a week after Vučić’s discussions in Brussels with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Following his talks with Commissioner Kos, Vučić stated that they discussed Serbia’s European path and that the meeting was conducted in a positive atmosphere.
"We talked about when we might expect the opening of new clusters - this year, two rather than one. We also discussed current developments in Serbia, our reform agenda, and the implementation of the European Growth Plan for the Western Balkans," Vučić said after the meeting.
Commissioner Kos also issued a statement afterward, confirming that they discussed "concrete steps on Serbia’s European path, the implementation of the Growth Plan, and reiterated the expectation of Serbia’s clear commitment to the EU."
(EUpravo zato)
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