Vucic: Important issues discussed with Costa, he has brought good will to EU talks

BELGRADE - Speaking to reporters after a meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said they had discussed all important issues and the necessity of dialogue with Pristina and preservation of peace and stability in the region, and noted that Costa had brought good will to Serbia's EU accession talks.

"I am very happy to have had the opportunity to speak with European Council President Antonio Costa and I am pleased with the substance of our discussions. I am grateful to President Costa for visiting Serbia and for bringing good will to Serbia's EU accession talks," Vucic said at a press conference with Costa at the Palace of Serbia.

Vucic said they had discussed all important issues, which he noted were not always and not necessarily easy for Serbia.

"The necessity of dialogue with Pristina, preservation of regional peace and stability. I said Serbia is always ready for discussions, that we have never shunned dialogue and that we believe it is the only path to solving problems. Also, we spoke about the necessity of carrying out reforms in our country," Vucic said.

He said he had addressed three areas with Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in March.

"One is a set of media laws. As part of that set, we have completed the Public Information Law and got the green light from the European Commission. The Law on Electronic Media has already been given the green light by the European Commission. As for the Law on Public Service Broadcasters, there are a few more small things regarding the viewer, listener and reader ombudsmans," Vucic said.

He added that a competition to elect the members of the Council of the Regulatory Authority on Electronic Media had begun on May 8 and that the process of electing the Council members would begin after the May 23 deadline for submitting applications.

"The third thing is what we expect to happen today or within two days - a positive opinion of the EU when it comes to acceptance of ODIHR recommendations regarding the electoral law and the electoral process itself, including the electoral roll," Vucic said.