Austria Affirms Support, Aid to Serbia on Path to EU

BETAPHOTO/AMIR HAMZAGIC

Austrian Minister for the European Union and the Constitution Karoline Edtstadler said in Belgrade on May 15 that Austria supported EU enlargement to the Western Balkans, and advised Belgrade to get behind European values and sanctions against Russia.

Edtstadler told reporters after meeting with EU Integration Minister Tanja Miscevic that Austria had always supported expansion to the Western Balkans and that it had been clear since the beginning of the war in Ukraine that very decisive and quick action was needed, adding that the EU was not whole without the Western Balkans.

Edtstadler described cooperation between the two nations as consistent and stable, noting that Serbia was Austria's most significant partner in the region and Austria Serbia's second largest investor, with some 400 companies and over 22,000 jobs. Trade between the two countries hit a record high of EUR1.93 billion in 2022.

Miscevic said she and Edtstadler had discussed ways to move Serbia further on the path to the EU with "political, economic and every other kind of assistance from Austria."

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told the Austrian minister that Serbia valued "Austria's commitment to date to the process of Serbia's EU integration" and hoped for continued support on that path.

According to a press release from the Serbian cabinet, Brnabic stressed that Serbia was strongly committed to continuing reforms, especially in the rule of law, and pointed out the necessity of implementing the Brussels Agreement and the obligation to form the Community of Serb Municipalities in Kosovo.