Declaration Adopted in Brussels: The Future of the Western Balkans Lies in the EU
At the EU-Western Balkans leaders’ summit in Brussels, a declaration was adopted reaffirming the full and unequivocal commitment to the prospect of EU membership for the Western Balkans and emphasizing that the region's future lies within the Union.
It is important to state that EU enlargement is a geostrategic investment in peace, security, stability, and prosperity, and to note the new dynamics in the enlargement process and significant progress made since the last summit.
“It is in our mutual interest to accelerate the accession process based on credible reforms by partners, conditions and our own merits,” the declaration states.
The document also references the EU-mediated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, highlighting that agreements reached in this dialogue must be implemented, particularly the Agreement on the Path to Normalization and its annex. It notes that the absence of normalization of relations "hinders both partners".
Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Djuric, during a meeting in Athens, expressed gratitude to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for his support of the European Serbia vision, emphasizing that Serbia’s accession to the EU would strengthen the position of both countries.
Hungarian Ambassador to the EU Odor Balint stated that he signed a letter on behalf of the Council of the European Union, inviting Serbia to submit its negotiating positions for Chapters 16 and 19 under Cluster 3, which focuses on competitiveness and inclusive growth.
The declaration stresses that reconciliation, inclusive regional cooperation, and good neighborly relations are at the core of the EU's values. It calls for the implementation of international agreements and emphasizes the need for "additional decisive efforts to foster reconciliation and regional stability, as well as to identify and implement definitive, inclusive, and binding solutions to regional and bilateral disputes and issues rooted in the legacy of the past, including remaining cases of missing persons and matters related to war crimes."
Support for Ukraine
In the context of a radical shift in the global geopolitical landscape, the war in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East, as well as the start of a new cycle of EU leadership, the declaration highlights that the strategic partnership between the EU and the Western Balkans is “more important than ever.”
“The geopolitical context in Europe requires all of us to be united and in solidarity in providing strong support for Ukraine and defending the rules-based international order. Alignment with the EU remains a clear indication of the strategic orientation of our Western Balkan partners,” the declaration states.
Predsednik Aleksandar Vučić u svom obraćanju javnosti iz Palate Srbije izjavio je da je pitanje dana kada će nekog ubiti, ukoliko država ne bude preduzela odlučnije i snažnije korake.
Na jedan lokal u stambeno-poslovnom kompleksu Smolvil u Kragujevcu oko 4.15 časova bačena je bomba, potvrdili su za RTS u Višem javnom tužilaštvu u Kragujevcu.
U organizaciji studenata u blokadi i zborova građana, peto veče zaredom održani se protesti u nekoliko gradova u Srbiji. Za razliku od proteklih večeri, ovog puta je na svim lokacijama gde su se održali protesti veče proteklo mirno i bez incidenata.
In July, members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as part of an international operation in cooperation with U.S. and U.K. police and military agencies – DEA, Joint Interagency Task Force South, and the National Crime Agency – seized 4.8 tons of cocaine in the waters of Martinique (France).
In Zubin Potok, a fire broke out in the printing house of Milos Perovic, an official of the Serb List and the party’s candidate in the upcoming local elections. The fire was caused by an attack with an explosive device on the premises, but firefighters quickly contained the blaze.
Protests organized by the Students in Blockade movement and civic assemblies were held in several cities across Serbia. In Valjevo, protesters set fire to the offices of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), as well as the entrances to the City Administration and Prosecutor’s Office buildings.
The Serbian Patriarch Porfirije called for an end to all conflicts and the rejection of words and actions that cause pain and wounds to others, stressing that nothing is more destructive than hatred, division and violence among brothers, and that nothing is more precious than peace and fraternal lov
According to research obtained by Newsmax Balkans, fuel is cheaper in North Macedonia, meat and processed meat products in Montenegro and Croatia, milk in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and household chemicals and cosmetics in most European countries.
Minister of Internal Affairs Ivica Dacic stated that 114 people were detained due to attacks on the police during Thursday's protests in several cities across Serbia. He added that 34 criminal charges and 28 misdemeanor charges have been filed. Among those arrested are three foreign nationals.
President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic met in Belgrade with the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik to discuss strengthening economic ties, national unity, and cooperation between Serbia and Srpska in the coming period.
President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, commenting on the protests in several locations across the country and the incidents in Novi Sad, said that “only thanks to the wisdom and patience of a vast number of citizens, peace was somehow preserved.”
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