Vucic Says "A Difficult Political Winter Awaits Us", von der Leyen Urges Serbia to Take Concrete Steps

"Von der Leyen is one of the few officials who has visited not only Belgrade, but also the poorer parts of Serbia. That is something we particularly appreciate and are grateful for," Vučić said in the opening of his remarks after the meeting.

He then reflected on the key topics discussed during the talks.

Foto: Tanjug/Jadranka Ilić

"For Serbia, EU membership is a strategic commitment, and that will not change. Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, we haven’t opened a single chapter or cluster. We still have a lot to do domestically and must continue discussions about the direction of our policies. The progress we’ve made regarding the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), voter lists, and key energy issues will be positively assessed, but we are now facing significant energy-related challenges that are not easy to resolve. We hope to have the EU’s support in all matters of importance concerning energy," Vucic stated.

“The EU is the Largest Partner and Investor”

Vucic said he had handed von der Leyen a letter requesting that Serbia be exempted from steel tariffs, expressing hope for favorable consideration of this issue.

"The coming winter will be difficult for us politically as well, but I believe we will continue to cooperate closely with our EU partners. The EU is our largest partner and investor. All of us in the Western Balkans are small compared to the EU and, collectively, not of great significance – yet most of our exports go to Germany, Italy, Romania, and Hungary. The EU is also the largest investor, accounting for around 60 percent of total investments. There was a slight decline last year, but the trend is recovering this year," the Serbian president noted.

He stated that the situation concerning the Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS) is not an easy one, but that Russian partners understood Belgrade’s position, emphasizing that Serbia is not negotiating the sale of NIS because it is not its owner.

Vucic announced the possible formation of a joint working group with the EU to address the energy situation and stressed the need to develop the energy sector in light of the expected rise in electricity consumption – particularly due to the growth of artificial intelligence and data centers.

He underlined the importance of gas power plants in Pancevo and Novi Sad for energy security and reiterated that Serbia is making significant efforts on its European path.

Von der Leyen: The Right Moment for Serbia to Take Concrete Steps

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thanked Vucic and Serbia for their hospitality.

Foto: Tanjug/Jadranka Ilić

"We live in a divided world where the gap between democracy and autocracy is widening. We advocate for partnership. Serbia made the choice to pursue EU membership two decades ago, and we expect it to move twice as fast on that path. Take, for example, the 2022 crisis caused by Russian aggression – you can continue to count on us. We have concrete projects that will connect Serbia with other countries, and we are ready to keep investing. This is the moment for Serbia to take concrete steps – to advance in the rule of law and electoral legislation. It’s worth the effort, because it brings you closer to your goal. I welcome the progress made on voter lists and the REM; these are good first steps, but implementation is key. I invite you to Brussels so we can review the results," von der Leyen said.

In foreign policy, she emphasized that she wanted to see further progress, noting that Serbia’s alignment with EU foreign policy currently stands at 61%, but that more is needed – particularly regarding sanctions against Russia.

Foto: Tanjug/Jadranka Ilić

"As part of the Growth Plan, we are working on integrating the payment system, which will make transactions safer and much cheaper – something many will appreciate. This demonstrates commitment to Europe, and now we want to see that same level of commitment from Serbia," the EU official stated.

She added that, under the same Growth Plan, the EU has already made available more than 100 million euros in new investments for Serbia.

"And there is more to come. Under the Growth Plan, you have established an oversight committee that includes representatives of civil society organizations – with whom I will meet later – as well as government representatives. Such a committee sends an excellent signal," von der Leyen concluded.

Komentari (0)