Croatian Foreign Minister: Serbia to Focus on Reforms

Gordan Grlic Radman (Photo: HINA / Edvard Susak)

Speaking on May 10, ahead of an EU ministerial meeting in Brussels, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlic Radman said that Serbia needed to focus on reforms and overcome war legacy on its path to the European Union.

The minister said that reinforced political engagement by the Union and a strategy for the Western Balkans were needed on the part of the Union, whereas partners in the region had to present results in democratic transformation, human rights and the rule of law.

"It's critical for their EU accession, but it goes without saying that we need to help them and do our part. It means to begin accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania, and also visa liberalization for Kosovo. Montenegro needs to remain committed to EU accession, and Serbia to focus on reforms and overcome war legacy," Minister Grlic Radman said.

In a reference to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Croatian foreign minister said the three constitutive peoples were "key to the country's functionality and stability and its EU accession." He underlined that the EU should engage and invest in the stability and security of Western Balkans, as it's investing in the stability and security of Europe.