The High Representative/Vice President, Josep Borrell, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Marko Đurić, in Brussels on Wednesday. The two politicians reaffirmed their commitment to Serbia’s EU integration process and expressed their anticipation for the continued implementation of EU-related reforms. They also agreed to enhance cooperation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
“Today, we are in #Brussels because #Europe is important for #Serbia, but I also firmly believe that Serbia is important for Europe. We talked with @JosepBorrellF, High Representative of the #EuropeanUnion for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, about how to get even closer when it comes to essential matters. In previous years, under the leadership of @predsednikrs @avucic, Serbia has made exceptional steps forward when it comes to strengthening our #economy and developing our #infrastructure and #institutions to a level that is even above the level achieved by certain members of the #EU,” Đurić posted on X.
HR/VP Borrell emphasised the significance of Serbia aligning with EU positions and decisions in foreign and security policy, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
The HR/VP stressed the EU’s strong expectation that Serbia increase its efforts towards full alignment, including restrictive measures. Full alignment is crucial for an EU candidate country to demonstrate its strategic orientation and progress towards EU membership.
HR/VP Borrell noted Serbia’s support to Ukraine and its people. He also welcomed Serbia’s continued high-quality contributions to the EU Common Security and Defence Policy missions and operations.
The High Representative and the Foreign Minister discussed the significance of increasing political dialogue and exchanges between the EU and Serbia.
High Representative Borrell reiterated that the EU expects both Kosovo and Serbia to engage in the EU-facilitated Dialogue in good faith and with a spirit of compromise, concluding it without delay with a comprehensive, legally binding agreement on the normalisation of relations by the EU acquis and international law. He stressed that implementing the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation of relations is the top priority. HR/VP Borrell emphasised that Kosovo’s and Serbia’s respective European paths go through the Dialogue.
“However, we want to be good students in the sense that we want to be a country that is recognised for everything it has done well in terms of #reforms and strengthening the #RuleOfLaw and its institutions. At the same time, we want our contribution and value as a people and a country to be acknowledged. We do not want to be treated as a second-class country in any way, but to be given an equal place at the #European table, as we deserve only the best,“ Minister Đurić wrote.
