Q:
A:
Serbia’s EU candidate status a great achievement
Belgrade,
2 March 2012
Serbian President Boris Tadic said that the awarding of the EU candidate status to Serbia is a great achievement which confirmed Serbia is on the right track, but noted that the EU membership is just a formal goal, while the essence lies in a better life of all citizens.
Boris Tadic
Author:
Tanjug
Tadic told a press conference that the status of candidate forecast better days for Serbia because it is important for foreign investments that are fundamental to improving the standard of living.
He stated that Serbia now has a special status in the EU and added that all countries see Serbia as a state that will become member of the Union.
Candidacy is also important from the standpoint of foreign investments that are necessary for the modernisation of the economy, he said, explaining that the candidate status is primarily a guarantee for the safety of these investments, without which there will be no new and well-paid jobs.
He congratulated the citizens of Serbia, as it is primarily their achievement.
This is an achievement of the people in Serbia. Serbian citizens carried the weight of the hard reform process on their shoulders, the President said.
The road to candidate status is a complex reform process, which is also painful, Tadic said.
The importance of candidate status is reflected in the fact that Serbia is on a good path, which was affirmed by the most important European institutions, he said.
If it were not so, we would not have been granted candidate status, Tadic said, adding that it is important that Serbia has been perceived as a country of freedom and democracy, and all its citizens can be proud of this.
There are two more steps before Serbia’s EU membership, namely determining the date of the beginning of negotiations and their completion.
It is the task of Serbia to conclude the negotiating process quickly and afterwards obtain full membership, the President said, reiterating that Serbia will no doubt achieve this goal.
As of today, Serbia has the right to use the symbols of the EU, he observed.
Serbia will not recognise Kosovo’s independence under any circumstances and this remains the country’s firm stance, he reiterated.
Elections in Kosovo-Metohija will be held in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and with UNMIK’s agreement, he said.
It is now crucial to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, he noted, underlining the importance of the agreement on telecommunications and the free movement of EULEX and KFOR on the territory of the entire province.
Serbia is committed to achieving these goals, but we will continue to defend our national interests, the President said.
He also thanked all full EU members for their support to Serbia in the process to acquire candidate status.
He stated that Serbia now has a special status in the EU and added that all countries see Serbia as a state that will become member of the Union.
Candidacy is also important from the standpoint of foreign investments that are necessary for the modernisation of the economy, he said, explaining that the candidate status is primarily a guarantee for the safety of these investments, without which there will be no new and well-paid jobs.
He congratulated the citizens of Serbia, as it is primarily their achievement.
This is an achievement of the people in Serbia. Serbian citizens carried the weight of the hard reform process on their shoulders, the President said.
The road to candidate status is a complex reform process, which is also painful, Tadic said.
The importance of candidate status is reflected in the fact that Serbia is on a good path, which was affirmed by the most important European institutions, he said.
If it were not so, we would not have been granted candidate status, Tadic said, adding that it is important that Serbia has been perceived as a country of freedom and democracy, and all its citizens can be proud of this.
There are two more steps before Serbia’s EU membership, namely determining the date of the beginning of negotiations and their completion.
It is the task of Serbia to conclude the negotiating process quickly and afterwards obtain full membership, the President said, reiterating that Serbia will no doubt achieve this goal.
As of today, Serbia has the right to use the symbols of the EU, he observed.
Serbia will not recognise Kosovo’s independence under any circumstances and this remains the country’s firm stance, he reiterated.
Elections in Kosovo-Metohija will be held in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and with UNMIK’s agreement, he said.
It is now crucial to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, he noted, underlining the importance of the agreement on telecommunications and the free movement of EULEX and KFOR on the territory of the entire province.
Serbia is committed to achieving these goals, but we will continue to defend our national interests, the President said.
He also thanked all full EU members for their support to Serbia in the process to acquire candidate status.
-
Belgrade, 13 August 2025High level of understanding, agreement between Serbia, Austria
-
Belgrade, 13 May 2025Serbia's sincere, firm commitment to European path, reforms and dialogue
-
Belgrade, 13 May 2025Vučić welcomes European Council President in front of Palace of Serbia
-
Belgrade, 16 April 2025New Serbian government voted in
-
Belgrade, 15 April 2025Building unity through dialogue, tolerance, respect for value system
-
Belgrade, 14 April 2025National Assembly speaker convenes session on government election
-
Belgrade, 6 April 2025Đuro Macut nominated as prime minister-designate
-
Belgrade, 2 April 2025Positive trend in growth of trade exchange with UK
-
Belgrade, 19 March 2025Parliament confirms resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević
-
Belgrade, 12 March 2025Vučić welcomes President of Burundi in front of Palace of Serbia