Macut, von der Leyen discuss Serbia's EU path

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Djuro Macut met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Belgrade on Wednesday to discuss Serbia’s EU path.

Macut said Serbia’s EU membership was a strategic priority, and highlighted his government’s readiness to continue to carry out reforms in line with European standards, the government press service said in a statement.

"Full membership in the EU remains Serbia’s clear and permanent strategic commitment, which it has never given up on," Macut noted.

He said an initiative for the Western Balkans Growth Plan, also supported by von der Leyen herself, had lent a new momentum to European integration and made more concrete the idea of ​a ​​​gradual inclusion of countries in the region in a single market and European policies.

"The Prime Minister presented the challenges in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, pointed out his readiness for talks with civil society regarding the reform process, and added that the goal is to create a stable, economically strong European country that, as an equal member of the Union, will contribute to peace, cooperation, and prosperity throughout Europe.

Von der Leyen praised the efforts of the Serbian government to strengthen institutions, improve the rule of law, and develop an economy based on innovation and green technologies.

She emphasised that Serbia has made noticeable progress on its European path, but that there is still plenty of room for improving cooperation with the European Commission and in implementing reforms," the statement said.

Macut and von der Leyen reiterated their shared position that "direct cooperation in numerous areas needs to be intensified and that Serbia and the EU continue to deepen their partnership on the path to a common future."