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EU: Tajani in Belgrade, Serbia's membership possible by 2025
EP president, Serbia crucial for stability in the Balkans
31 January, 20:21
(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 31 - The President of the European
Parliament, Antonio Tajani, who is visiting Belgrade today, said
he was very satisfied with the talks with the Serbian
leadership, being confident that Serbia and Montenegro could
join the EU by 2025.
''Serbia is part of Europe and the Serbs are European, therefore this country has the right to become a member of the Union'', Tajani said at the end of the meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic. Serbia, he added, is ''a great country that is committed to stability in the Balkans, which is crucial for the stability of Europe as a whole''. This point was reiterated several times by Tajani in Belgrade where, in addition to Vucic, he met premier Ana Brnabic, the parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic and the foreign minister Ivica Dacic.
''President Vucic - he said - said some firm words to safeguard Serbian interests, but at the same time his speech was full of common sense and foresight, aiming at reaching agreements and fostering dialogue with neighbouring countries''. As for the Kossovo issue, the EP president underlined the need to continue the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, in order to reach an agreement on the full normalization of relations. ''Reaching a binding agreement between Belgrade and Pristina ahead of Serbia's accession is essential to the EU'', which does not mean recognition of Kosovo. ''The recognition of the independence of Pristina has nothing to do with joining the Union, and the binding agreement between the parties is important'', pointed out Tajani and 2018 can be a crucial year for an acceleration in the region's European prospetc. With regard to this issue, Tajani also expressed optimism in his speech at a crowded Economic Forum on 'Investments, growth and job creation' attended by Serbian and European entrepreneurs.
''Collaboration is essential, we want to invite Serbian businessmen to Brussels, and today is the beginning of a new strategy in our cooperation'', he said. These words were very much appreciated by President Vucic. ''If the European Union had more people like Tajani, who respects Serbia and the Serbian people and knows the Western Balkans very well, I am sure we would achieve better results'', he said President. (ANSA).
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''Serbia is part of Europe and the Serbs are European, therefore this country has the right to become a member of the Union'', Tajani said at the end of the meeting with President Aleksandar Vucic. Serbia, he added, is ''a great country that is committed to stability in the Balkans, which is crucial for the stability of Europe as a whole''. This point was reiterated several times by Tajani in Belgrade where, in addition to Vucic, he met premier Ana Brnabic, the parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic and the foreign minister Ivica Dacic.
''President Vucic - he said - said some firm words to safeguard Serbian interests, but at the same time his speech was full of common sense and foresight, aiming at reaching agreements and fostering dialogue with neighbouring countries''. As for the Kossovo issue, the EP president underlined the need to continue the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, in order to reach an agreement on the full normalization of relations. ''Reaching a binding agreement between Belgrade and Pristina ahead of Serbia's accession is essential to the EU'', which does not mean recognition of Kosovo. ''The recognition of the independence of Pristina has nothing to do with joining the Union, and the binding agreement between the parties is important'', pointed out Tajani and 2018 can be a crucial year for an acceleration in the region's European prospetc. With regard to this issue, Tajani also expressed optimism in his speech at a crowded Economic Forum on 'Investments, growth and job creation' attended by Serbian and European entrepreneurs.
''Collaboration is essential, we want to invite Serbian businessmen to Brussels, and today is the beginning of a new strategy in our cooperation'', he said. These words were very much appreciated by President Vucic. ''If the European Union had more people like Tajani, who respects Serbia and the Serbian people and knows the Western Balkans very well, I am sure we would achieve better results'', he said President. (ANSA).
