Von der Leyen: EU Prepared to Support Serbian People in Strengthening Democracy

Ursula von der Leyen (BETAPHOTO/European Parliament/Alexis HAULOT)

On Oct. 15 in Belgrade, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on the Serbian people to unite and together participate in the reforms their country is undergoing as part of its Euro-integrations. The reforms are “changing the state for the better,” Von der Leyen asserted and added that the Union is prepared to support the Serbian people’s involvement in the process.

Following talks with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, the EC head commended the regime’s announced plan to update the electoral roll and reach an agreement regarding the Regulatory Authority for Digital Media’s steering committee – which has not been formed for a year and counting.

Von der Leyen went on to express her expectations for greater Serbian alignment with the EU’s foreign policy, including its sanctions against Russia.

Vucic told the press that EU membership is a strategic goal for Serbia and a priority in the country’s foreign policy, something which he said will not change until the next elections – or after. However, the president did underscore that Serbia has not opened a single cluster in the accession negotiations since war broke out in Ukraine.

“I believe we’ve gotten some things done lately, [but] we still have much more to do, including internal talks within the country itself regarding our policy. I believe the European Commission will positively respond to what has already been done regarding the Regulatory Authority for Digital Media, the electoral roll, and some other energy issues,” the Serbian president concluded.