Costa: EU committed to Serbia's European perspective, enlargement based on trust-building

BELGRADE- European Council President Antonio Costa said on Thursday he had come to Belgrade to reaffirm the EU's continued commitment to Serbia's European perspective and added that EU enlargement represented a geostrategic necessity for Europe and was based on trust-building.

"In these times of global geopolitical uncertainty and economic instability – now more than ever – enlargement is not just an opportunity. It is a geostrategic necessity for Europe. It is an investment in the peace, stability, security and prosperity of our continent, for the benefit of all European citizens. And also, for the benefit of the people of Serbia," Costa said at a press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

"Yet, enlargement is based on building trust. The road ahead is demanding but the path is clear. We must focus on 3 main priorities:

- Fostering good neighbourhood relations and regional cooperation. They are vital for both security and economic prosperity. The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and the full implementation of the Ohrid agreement are critical in this regard;

- Aligning with the European Union’s policies and values, in particular our Common Foreign and Security Policy. These are not just principles we uphold. They are the very foundation of the European project and our partnership with Serbia;

- Delivering the ongoing reforms is necessary to advance on your accession process," Costa said.

"We encourage you to continue to accelerate reforms in the three important areas that you referred to:

Rule of Law – Including fully implementing the recommendations by the Venice Commission on the laws governing the judiciary and prosecution;

Media Freedom – making sure to create an enabling environment for media and establish a new REM Council in a transparent and inclusive way;

And finally, reforming the Electoral Framework in line with the ODIHR recommendations ahead of the next Serbian elections," he added,

"I welcome the four electoral laws that were adopted last week as a very important step. Now, it’s important to conclude by addressing the remaining recommendations, including the ones on the prevention of the misuse of state resources and on pressure against voters.

I know that these reforms are not easy. And they must include all parts of society, including the opposition and the civil society. The accession process is not only a task for the government, it needs the full mobilisation of Serbian society. But they are worth the efforts, because they bring you closer to our goal, Serbia’s accession to the European Union.

And we, the European Union, are here to support you in these efforts, bringing Serbia closer to EU membership. This is our common goal: it is not Serbia on one side and the European Union on the other," he said.

"The European Union remains Serbia’s most significant partner – in trade, investment, and, crucially, in strengthening democratic institutions. We want and we are ready to do more. But let me be clear: the pace of progress depends on Serbia’s own resolve. Time is of the essence. The European Union’s door remains open, but the window for decisive action is now.

I am sure that by working together in a frank and close way, we will achieve our shared goal - to ensure that Serbia becomes a full member of the European Union," Costa said.

He extended condolences over the death of a Serbian peacekeeper deployed to the UN mission in Lebanon.