National Convention on the European Union: Most of Serbian Citizens Want to Join EU

European Parliament (Photo: European Union 2019/EP/Gabor Kovacs)

A representative of the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU), Bojana Selakovic, said on Dec. 21 that the only patriotic choice by Serbia, which was in the best interest of its citizens, was “to join the European family of nations.”

Speaking at a NCEU session at the Parliament of Serbia, Selakovic said that “most of Serbian citizens, regardless of what polls on the European Union (EU) say, still wants to join it.” Selakovic also said that “the number of those leaving Serbian for the Union illustrates the point.” The relationship with the EU changed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and “Serbia and the Western Balkans have a historic chance that would make reforms and a substantial transformation of society possible, which is in the best interest of Serbian citizens,” Selakovic explained.

A deputy speaker and the chair of the Committee on European integration, Elvira Kovac, said there’s very good cooperation with the non-governmental sector as to decisions on European integrations, and that it was “an important segment of social and political life.” “Serbia’s accession to the EU is a strategic goal. We are aware that there are many challenges Serbia needs to overcome, and many reforms to implement, not because of the Union, but for its own sake and to improve the lives of its citizens,” Kovac said.