Andreas Norlen (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV/DS)
Swedish Speaker Andreas Norlen said in Belgrade on Aug. 24 that Sweden remained very committed to EU enlargement in the Western Balkans, but that Serbia needed to work on reforms in a number of areas to be admitted into the EU.
"Sweden supports Serbia's and the entire Western Balkans' European ambitions to become a member of the European family. Serbia's membership in the EU demands reforms in the area of rule of law, justice, fighting corruption, freedom of the media as well as the political system so that the opposition can again be represented in parliament," Norlen said.
At a joint news conference after meeting Serbian Speaker Ivica Dacic, Norlen said that "I am very glad to have heard information" on the dialog between the Serbian government and opposition on election conditions. "In Sweden, all members of parliament are democratic representatives of the people, we all call each other colleagues. I support the reduction of sharp undertones between politicians in Serbia, we are very committed to the development of the situation in this direction," Norlen said.
Dacic said that Serbia "wants the best possible cooperation" with Sweden and that bilateral relations are "on the upswing." He reiterated that Serbia's strategic orientation was membership in the EU and thanked Sweden for its continuous support on its road to Europe.
Norlen also met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
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