Vucic: EU membership remains Serbia's strategic goal

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic received the credentials of the new EU ambassador to Belgrade, Andreas von Beckerath, on Friday, noting that EU membership remained Serbia's strategic goal.

"Today, I received the credentials of the EU ambassador to Serbia, Andreas von Beckerath, and wished him a sincere welcome and a successful term in Serbia. The Serbia-EU relationship represents one of the key pillars of our foreign policy, and EU membership remains the strategic goal of the Republic of Serbia. We are committed to expediting and consistently carrying out reforms that are a part of the European agenda, because we believe that progress in those areas is necessary not only for meeting the technical criteria but, above all, for the benefits reforms bring to our society," Vucic wrote in an Instagram post.

He expressed the confidence von Beckerath's vast experience would help to deepen the relations and to boost comprehensive cooperation with EU institutions.

"I look forward to open dialogue and fruitful cooperation in tackling joint challenges and accomplishing objectives benefitting the citizens of Serbia and the entire European continent," Vucic concluded.