Djuric: EU Membership Would Bring Western Balkans More Stability, Weaken Ethno-Nationalism

mfa.gov.rs

Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said in Brussels on July 3 that Serbia is intensifying its efforts on the path toward membership in the European Union (EU), with European integration being a key foreign policy priority, stressing that Belgrade sees its future in the Union and is working to strengthen regional stability and reconciliation.

“Serbia is redoubling its efforts on its path toward the European Union. Our European path is at the center of our foreign policy. Serbian foreign policy has in recent years become increasingly pro-European and Europe-oriented. This is no accident, but the result of our understanding of the direction in which Europe and the world are moving,” Djuric said at a presentation of Serbia’s reform agenda.

The presentation was organized at a Brussels hotel by the head of Serbia’s mission to the EU, Danijel Apostolovic, and was also attended by Serbian Speaker Ana Brnabic, Minister of European Integration Nemanja Starovic and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali. Addressing the guests, Djuric said that Europe and the world are facing unprecedented challenges, but that Serbia has no dilemma when it came to its strategic orientation.

According to him, one of the key benefits of Serbia’s European integration would be greater stability in the region and making sure that the Balkans are no longer Europe’s “Achilles’ heel.” The Serbian foreign minister also said the Serbian government is working on reconciliation and improving relations with its neighbors, despite the fact that, as he said, ethno-nationalism is still present in the region.