Vucic: I believe much can be done by end-2025 for Serbia's progress on EU path

TIRANA - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday in Tirana he believed much could be done by end-2025 for Serbia's progress on the EU accession path.

Asked if the EU would finally be consistent when it comes to enlargement in the Western Balkans, Vucic said a desire did seem to exist.

"It is not going to be easy for us due to the trip to Moscow, and I unequivocally expect verbal attacks. I will try to take that upon myself without Serbia paying any price for that. It is not a simple situation but I believe we can do much by the end of the year to make further progress on the European path," Vucic told reporters ahead of the 6th European Political Community summit in Tirana.

There were major incentives in EU integration in 2022, but now it could go even more quickly and more strongly because, today, it is clear that the collective West as we used to imagine it no longer exists in that way, Vucic said.

"They will be looking to align wherever they can, especially when it comes to security, arms purchases and everything else. We are talking about America and Europe, but they are certainly not the same entities and not always aligned - they are certainly not, and will never be again in the future, so that offers us an additional opportunity for progress in Europe while enabling us to work more strongly with other partners as well," Vucic said.