Macut: Serbia committed to regional cooperation, EU path

ANTALYA - Serbian PM Djuro Macut said at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum on Friday that global governance mechanisms had an irreplaceable role but that regional cooperation was becoming increasingly important amid growing global uncertainty.

Speaking at a panel titled The Role of Regional Ownership in a Transforming World, Macut underlined that "global mechanisms must be based on clearly defined universal rules and their consistent respect," a government statement said.

"He underscored that Serbia is strongly committed to strengthening regional cooperation, which contributes to building trust, the reconciliation process and overall development on our path toward full membership in the European Union.

Speaking about advantages of regional platforms, the Prime Minister said that regional actors are the most competent to respond to political, economic and humanitarian challenges, as well as that jointly they most effectively solve the problems related to infrastructure, trade, transport, education and youth cooperation.

Macut underlined that the countries of the Western Balkans aspire to full membership in the European Union and that regional initiatives are largely based on the adoption of European standards and the EU acquis.

The Prime Minister cited the CEFTA agreement as an example of successful cooperation, which, as he assessed, made trade considerably easier and contributed to the economic growth of all participants.

He also noted that regional initiatives in Southeast Europe played a key role in renewing ties and boosting trust after the 1990s," it also said.