Miscevic: We must prove we have competent market

BELGRADE - Under economic criteria, a country that wants to become an EU member state must prove that it has a market that is based on competition and economic competence, Serbia's European Integration Minister Tanja Miscevic noted on Wednesday.

Miscevic said this at the opening of the first European Innovation Council (EIC) regional Info Day, at which the Accelerator programme and opportunities for funding were presented to startups.

Miscevic said she expected much in terms of Serbia's EU integration path and prosperity.

With the EU Delegation, Serbia is working on establishing a good partnership, she said.

"The need for economic development is significant, and I do not have to provide additional explanation for that part. With this programme, we also keep up with criteria, one of the criteria for EU membership being a stable democracy and stable democratic institutions, which are the first and the most important element," she said.

The other criterion is an economic one, requiring a country that wants to become a part of the EU to prove that it has a market in its territory that is based on the rules of competition and economic competence, Miscevic said.

"Every day, we are witnessing a constant increase in the number of ideas in terms of boosting development, which will help us achieve new innovation," she also said.