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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Western Balkans among priorities of Romania's EU Council Presidency

Belgrade, 26 December 2018

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic spoke today with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Romania Teodor Meleșcanu, who is on an official visit to Serbia.

Dacic thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania for attending a joint press conference after his meeting in the Palace "Serbia" because he came to visit Serbia only a few days before Romania takes over the EU Council Presidency.

He pointed out that relations between Serbia and Romania are very friendly.

It is important for us to make progress as fast as possible in the process of Euro-integration, and we hope that the number of chapters when Romania takes over the presidency will be greater than we have been opening so far, he said.

The First Deputy Prime Minister also pointed out that the next year marks a significant jubilee, 140 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Romania.

Our political relations are rising. We are interested in continuing cooperation and developing it in all areas of common interest. The volume of trade is €1.5 billion, and we expect it to be even bigger, he said.

Dacic said that Serbia highly appreciates Romania's position on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country and thanked Romania for not voting recently for Kosovo's admission to Interpol.

Meleșcanu stressed that his country fully supports the European path of Serbia and invited Serbian officials to maximize their engagement in European integration.

I assure you that we will place the Western Balkans among the highest priorities of the EU presidency, Meleșcanu said.

He also pointed out that the very fact that he came to Belgrade, on the eve of the takeover of EU presidency by Romania, speaks of how much his country attaches importance to the relationship with Serbia and its Euro-integration.

It is in our interest that the Western Balkans become part of the EU, he said, adding that it is important to continue the European path of the region, and that the EU remains committed to the region's rapprochement.

Romania's Foreign Minister said that there was never a better time to carry out reforms and offer Bucharest's technical assistance in adapting to European standards.

Meleșcanu also pointed out that economic ties between Serbia and Romania are strong, that trade is almost at a record level, adding that there are opportunities for large joint infrastructure projects in transport and energy, as well as cooperation on border security.