European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Belgrade as a part of her Balkans tour, the place she reaffirmed Europe’s dedication to Serbia’s progress in the direction of EU membership.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on Friday to debate Serbia’s path in the direction of the European Union.
“Europe stays strongly dedicated to Serbia’s European future,” von der Leyen stated after the assembly with Vučić.
“In occasions of battle, struggle and unrest, being a member of the European Union is a promise of peace and prosperity, and it’s a promise we are able to maintain collectively,” he added.
The Commission president was in Serbia this week as a part of a visit to aspiring EU member states within the Western Balkans, aiming to reassure them that EU enlargement stays a precedence for the 27-nation bloc.
Last Friday he visited Bosnia the place he pledged assist for the troubled Balkan nation because it struggles with reforms wanted to maneuver in the direction of European Union membership.
The Western Balkan nations – Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia – are at completely different levels of their bid for EU membership.
Countries have expressed frustration with the gradual tempo of the method; However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted European leaders to encourage the six nations to hitch the bloc.
EU officers final 12 months supplied a 6 billion euro progress plan to Western Balkan nations in a bid to double the area’s financial system over the subsequent decade and velocity up their efforts to hitch the bloc.
Such help is conditional on reforms that deliver their economies in keeping with EU requirements.
Vučić on Friday stated Serbia will “give its all” to “speed up” its path in the direction of EU membership. Serbia grew to become an EU candidate nation in 2012.
The Commission on Wednesday permitted the reform applications of Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia after the inexperienced gentle from EU member states. This was a key step to allow funds underneath the Growth Plan as soon as the agreed reform steps have been accomplished.
