Serbian president calls for accelerated European integration

BELGRADE, July 19 (Xinhua) — Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday urged the European Commission to accelerate the European integration of Serbia.
He made the remarks while meeting with visiting European Commissioner for Budget and Human Resources Gunther Oettinger, according to an official statement.
Oettinger arrived in Belgrade Thursday and discussed with Vucic the European integration of Serbia, the EU funds and joint projects.
Vucic emphasized that he expects a stronger continuation of the European Commission’s support for the acceleration of accession negotiations, stressing that the European Commission’s latest annual report on Serbia clearly shows that Serbia is pursuing numerous political and economic reforms.
According to the statement, he pointed out that Serbia is ready to use a positive moment which emerged with the European Commission’s strategic document on the credible policy of enlargement of the Western Balkans, stressing that the EU budget proposal from 2021-2027 is a good example, “whose elements should be used, such as those concerning additional investment in innovation, infrastructure and agriculture”.
Vucic added that it is also very important that the current EU budget proposal also implies a significant increase in the allocation of the pre-accession assistance to candidates and potential candidates, among which is Serbia.
He expressed readiness of Serbia to proceed with further reforms, in line with the assessments and recommendations presented in the European Commission report.
Oettinger said that it is “very important to know what Serbia’s expectations about European funds are.”
“We have constructive relations and despite various challenges and obstacles, Serbia, with the full support of the European Commission, is successfully and continuously making progress on its European path,” concluded Oettinger.