Kurz: Reforms, Work on Agreement with Pristina Key to Serbia's Progress in EU Accession

Kurz: Austria to Support Any Solution Kosovo and Serbia Might Reach

Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said that speedier reform, tangible results in the rule of law and continuous efforts to reach a normalization agreement with Pristina were key to Serbia's progress on the path to the European Union (EU).

In an interview published in the February issue of the CorD magazine, the chancellor said that Austria fully supported the Western Balkans' EU accession, and that it would support the launch of accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania in the first half of the year.

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"Serbia has a unique responsibility in demonstrating that this region is forging ahead on its European path by significantly accelerating its own reform efforts and delivering concrete and tangible results in the rule of law and other fundamental areas. Continuous engagement in good faith to negotiate and achieve a comprehensive and legally binding normalization agreement is crucial to progress on the European path," Kurz said.

The Austrian leader stated that Serbia had a clear EU accession perspective, with 16 negotiating chapters opened and two provisionally closed, welcoming a decision by the new government to "prioritize EU integration, public health and economic growth, as well as the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina."