Djuric: Serbia must not fall behind region in EU integration process

BRUSSELS - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Wednesday a pro-Serbian campaign was underway in Brussels to present the results of reforms conducted in Serbia to date to keep the country from falling behind others in the region when it comes to European integration.

Djuric, who will attend an informal dinner hosted in Brussels by EU foreign policy and security chief Kaja Kallas for EU FMs and Western Balkan partners, noted that Serbia, as the central country of the Balkan peninsula, must take its rightful place at the European table.

Serbia must continue to carry out reforms so that it does not fall behind other countries in the region that will, in the coming years, undoubtedly attain the right to make decisions at the European table in Brussels, he said.

"Here in Brussels, we are in the midst of a true pro-Serbian campaign that has been going on at the EU headquarters these days," Djuric said, noting that Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic had visited Brussels on Tuesday and that a delegation of the Serbian MFA was there on Wednesday.

"Our goal is to present clearly to the European public and to top EU officials the reform steps Serbia has been taking in the past weeks and months and the new energy with which we are approaching the European integration process," Djuric said.

"It is also necessary that our society focuses on something positive and something that will bring a tangible, stronger connection with the continent we are on, with a community of peoples and states that accounts for more than 62 pct of our trade, or more than 77 pct, if you add the region to that," he said.

"This is not just an opportunity for a pro-European narrative. This is an opportunity for concrete agreements on accelerating Serbia's European integration," Djuric said.

Serbia wants to take the opportunity to present its results in Paris, Berlin and many other European capitals where decision-makers now want to see EU enlargement and want to see Serbia, as the central country of the Balkan peninsula, take its rightful place at the European table, which belongs to it, Djuric said.

"We need to accelerate our reforms additionally, and we have really done that in the past weeks and months. We came here to present those results, to seek support not only for what has been done to date when it comes to preparations for opening Cluster 3, but also support for overall efforts to create a social consensus in Serbia that is required for continuing the European integration," he said.

Djuric noted that EU integration was not only the responsibly of a single leader, a single party or a single government, but of entire society.