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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

EP supports European integration of Serbia

Belgrade, 15 July 2015

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic stated today that President of the European Parliament (EP) Martin Schulz expressed a strong, clear and unequivocal support to Serbia's European path, and said that our country will continue the policy of peace and stability.

Martin Schulz and Aleksandar Vucic

Speaking at a joint press conference after the meeting with Schulz in the Serbian government, Vucic said he believes that our country will have such support from the entire Brussels team and that it will be able to rejoice in the recognition of its results that it will receive from Brussels.

He thanked Schulz on his personal commitment and on wanting to see Serbia as an organised country and a part of Europe.

According to Vucic, this is another important day for us which shows that Serbia is not alone and that it will have support, but nobody will do instead of us the job we are supposed to do in order to reach our goal.

The Prime Minister reiterated that Serbia will give its contribution to the further expansion of the policy of peace in the Balkans and to its relations with the Albanians, Bosniaks and Croats.

Vucic informed the President of the European Parliament about the economic reforms in Serbia and underlined once more that our country does not intend to reach big and good results through easy solutions and simple measures.

For this reason, he explained, Serbia has been willing to make tough and painful measures that have already yielded good results.

Serbia wants respect and know-how from its European friends, Vucic stated and added that once Serbia has its deputies in the European Parliament, it will have serious and responsible representatives and voiced hope that this will happen soon.

The Prime Minister voiced hope that the first chapters in the negotiations with the EU will have been opened by the end of the year, but also that we will achieve agreements with Pristina much earlier, so that in September the opening of chapters could be recommended and in October finally opened.

He said that he is more concerned about the political situation and the possible consequences of the instability in the region than about the opening of the chapters and stressed that Serbia is stable in political and economic terms.

The concern is present, which is why I asked help and support form the EU on this matter, Vucic added.

Schulz stressed that it is possible that some negotiating chapters will have been opened by the end of the year, and underlined that Serbia is not forgotten in Brussels.

The European Union, he said, is looking with expectations at the key role that Serbia can play in the region.

He also stressed the importance of economic and infrastructure connections in the region, pointing out that stability and sustainable development are possible only with cooperation, and their importance is immeasurable both for the region and for the EU as a whole.

If all goes well, I can say that the first chapters might be able to be opened by the end of the year.

The opening of chapters depend on many things, not only on reaching agreements with Pristina, but that is also an important element, Schulz explained.

The European Parliament President commended Vucic for the courageous steps he has taken in order to achieve stability in the region.

According to Schulz, the visit of the Serbian Prime Minister to Croatia and Tirana, relations with Kosovo, the reception of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Belgrade are remarkable signs of courage and constructive role of Serbia in the region.

He also described as a courageous move the decision of the Serbian Prime Minister to go to Srebrenica, and at the same time condemned the incidents that occurred during the commemoration in Potocari.

Schulz emphasised Vucic’s statement after the event in Srebrenica, when he said that he would continue with the policy of reconciliation.

The two officials also discussed the refugee problem that Serbia is facing, stating that he was informed that up to 1,000 refugees enter Serbia every day, which exceeds the country’s capabilities.

Europe needs an efficient solution based on solidarity. Building walls again is not a solution in Europe and the European Parliament does not support the decision of Hungary to raise a wall along the border with Serbia, Schulz stated.

He expressed hope that a solution can be found through dialogue between Belgrade and Budapest and cooperation with the EU without creating new divisions.