Vucic meets with Varhelyi in Brussels

BRUSSELS - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday in Brussels he had had a good and open discussion with EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi about Serbia's progress in the EU accession process, and that he had noted that Serbia was prepared to take new steps towards EU membership and that he had requested more active engagement by European institutions to protect the rights of Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija.

Vucic added that they had also discussed implementation of the reform agenda and the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

"I reiterated that, substantially and technically, Serbia is ready for new steps towards EU approximation and membership, especially when it comes to rule of law, economic and social integration, and I thanked for the support on that path," Vucic wrote in a post on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram account.

He said he had taken the opportunity to inform Varhelyi of the worrying situation in Kosovo-Metohija and request more active engagement by European institutions to protect the rights of Serbs in the province.

"I thanked Commissioner Varhelyi for his personal efforts and contribution to Serbia's European path during his term as enlargement commissioner, and I wished him success in his new post in the next European Commission, for which he has been put forward," he said.

Vucic is in Brussels for a working luncheon to be hosted for Western Balkan leaders by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday.