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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Balkans in EU means peace, prosperity for all

Belgrade/Luxembourg, 9 September 2019

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic today expressed her gratitude to Luxembourg for its support for EU enlargement policy and stated that this agenda is important not only for peace and prosperity in the Balkans, but throughout Europe as a whole.

During a press conference that Brnabic had with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Brnabic said that after decades of peace, prosperity and stability, EU citizens began to accept this as a normal matter, but that we in the Balkans and Serbia know that this should not be taken for granted.

That is why we have such a strong aspiration for Europe, she said and at the same time urged Prime Minister Bettel and his country to continue to support the enlargement agenda in the new European Commission.

Brnabic underlined that Luxembourg appreciates the need for the EU not to expand, but to include the Western Balkans in the European family of nations, as it is otherwise surrounded by members of that community.

I think this agenda is important for the Balkans as well as for Europe, since long-term peace and stability can only come within the European Union, the Prime Minister underlined.

She said that she is happy that she is on a visit to Luxembourg and that she is invited to attend the ceremony on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the country's liberation in World War II, and expressed gratitude on behalf of the Serbian people for remembering our victims in both the First and the Second World War.

Brnabic announced that Serbia will continue to implement reforms.

We are aware that we need to strengthen the economy, public administration in order for it to be more efficient and transparent, and to implement reforms in the field of the rule of law, which is currently the most challenging, the Prime Minister said and noted that the most difficult part in the area of economic reforms and fiscal consolidation was done by Alexander Vucic as prime minister.

According to her, Serbia will continue to work on the strengthening of regional stability and cooperation, because without a stable and predictable region, there is no stable and predictable Serbia.

Brnabic is pleased that Serbia and Luxembourg share the same vision when it comes to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

My goal was to change and create an economy that is focused on knowledge and innovation and can provide more opportunities for young people, the Prime Minister said and added that Serbia's exports in the IT sector have been doubled and that it had become one of its strongest sectors.

She highlighted the importance of the memorandum, which will be signed by the chambers of commerce of the two countries, which, she said, will enable start-ups to come to Serbia.

Bettel underlined that Luxembourg is a long-standing partner of Serbia and has always supported the European path of our country, adding that the reforms that Serbia is implementing must also go towards improving the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and the freedom of speech.

He added that Luxembourg is one of the most important foreign direct investors in Serbia, and that it supports our country in other areas, such as IT, public administration and financial sector.