Vucic, Fabrizi: Europe, Serbia Can Count On Each Other

Vucic, Fabrizi (BETAPHOTO/EMIL VAS/EV)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Sem Fabrizi, said on May 8 in Belgrade that Europe and Serbia could count on each other, and that they would work to step up Serbia's accession to the Union.

At a reception hosted by Fabrizi to celebrate Europe Day on May 9 the EU ambassador said that the Union "is still unambiguously committed" to the Western Balkans. "The EU is Serbia's number one trade partner, its largest investor and a source of new jobs, a partner for strategic infrastructure projects, as well as a partner for education and social development. The EU is working alongside with Serbia to fulfill the vision of you becoming part of the European family," Fabrizi said.

He also said that "there's a lot yet to be done" in the Serbian accession process, adding that "Serbia's future lies in the EU." "We know there are difficulties in the rule of law, it is necessary to normalize relations with Pristina in a dialogue, but we know that Serbia is capable of meeting its obligations. We should count on each other. Serbia, Europe is counting on you," the ambassador said.

President Vucic said that Serbia's membership in the EU, together with a compromise for Kosovo, "is the way to make this country well-organized and successful." "There's plenty of effort yet to be invested in reforms, because it will bring progress to this country. Particularly important are reforms in the rule of law that we are about to launch, if I may say so, with much more responsibility," Vucic said.