(ANSA) - BELGRADE - According to Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern Serbia's EU integration process should be accelerated, underling this issue has long been overlooked by Brussels.

''Serbia is part of Europe and a natural partner of the European Union'', Kern told the Serbian news agency Tanjug. ''Serbia is a driving force in the Balkans and a key country for the whole region, therefore its entry into the European family must be accelerated'', added the chancellor, who is the leader of the Austrian Social Democratic Party (SPOE). Talking about the problems the EU is facing - in particular Brexit, slowing down the enlargement process - Kern said that he will submit Serbia's problem to the EU's partners: ''In Brussels we have recently dealt with this issue, and I said it was in favour of an acceleration of Serbia's integration process. We are supported by Jean-Claude Juncker and Federica Mogherini'', added Kern, who praised the reforms that have been already implemented in Serbia with excellent results. (ANSA).