Vucic: I will propose joint EU accession for all Western Balkan candidate countries

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday joint and full EU accession for all Western Balkan candidate countries was the best idea and that he would propose it at Wednesday's meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"If you take in one, two or three of us, then what about the rest? How will we deal with that? How will we resolve all the outstanding issues," Vucic told a panel at GLOBSEC's BELTALKS: Belgrade Economic Talks forum.

"This is about the future of the region, but also about the future of Europe," he added.

"If someone wants to understand geopolitics, this is the only thing the EU can do: to take us all in together, without borders between us," he said. "I see only good things as the common denominator of this idea. It was my idea and I will say this openly to both (European Council President) Antonio Costa and Ursula von der Leyen tomorrow," Vucic said.

Vucic: Serbia would not nationalise NIS, but pay for Russian stake

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday Serbia would not nationalise the Russian majority-owned oil firm NIS but pay for the Russian stake in the company if it had to in order to keep NIS operating.

Vucic said this at a panel at GLOBSEC's BELTALKS: Belgrade Economic Talks forum, when asked if he expected any kind of backlash from Russia in case Serbia moved to nationalise NIS, which is under US sanctions due to its Russian-majority ownership.

"It is not nationalisation - it is something we would pay for," Vucic said, noting that many people from GLOBSEC had told him Serbia was in a difficult position due to his reluctance to impose sanctions on Russia.

"And I always refused that. Someone might be angry, because we want to live normally. I do not believe that. I think the Russians understand everything," he said.

He added that, for that reason, he was certain the Russian side would sell the company to a desired partner in case the sanctions were not lifted.

"But I see no point in being furious or angry with Serbia. We are still the only country that has regular flights to Russia from Europe. I do not want to mention that all our football and basketball teams play games against their teams and clubs. We have good cooperation in all the different social spheres. But someone must understand, for their part, just like I have asked the West to understand for its part, that we are a sovereign and independent country. I have a responsibility towards my citizens. I must ensure a regular way of life to them, and that is it. At least ensure some basic things a state must ensure to every citizen. That is what we need to do," Vucic said.

He added that he could not imagine normal life in Serbia with empty petrol stations.

"And then, what will we do with our health centres, our transportation system, our industry, our homes and our families? It is inevitable. We need to keep the refinery and the NIS operating. All this is very reasonable and rational," Vucic noted.