Vucic: Serbia absolutely in favour of Macron-Merz proposal of gradual EU integration

TIVAT - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday a discussion he had attended at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro, had been very good, open and sincere, and noted that Serbia was absolutely in favour of a proposal made by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a non-paper as it would change the pace and the energy of EU accession, which he said was positive news for Serbia.

The non-paper proposes gradual EU integration of the Western Balkans.

"We are absolutely in favour of that, we think it is a good proposal, and I think it will change, I would say, both the pace and the energy of the EU accession," Vucic told reporters after the summit.

That does not mean any commitments would be avoided, he noted.

"On the contrary, but it means that, when you do something, you get recognition for that and you can sit at the table. I believe that, in the coming period, with the things we need to do and the reforms we need to carry out, we will finally open Cluster 3 (in the accession talks), and that, very quickly, we will be ready to also open Cluster 2 and some other clusters. But in any case, very positive news and a very good, open and sincere discussion," Vucic said.

He said several countries at the summit, from Lithuania to the Benelux states, had insisted on full alignment with the EU foreign policy and sanctions on Russia, which he noted had been requested from Serbia.

Vucic added that he had had discussions with many - or almost all - leaders at the summit.

"I also had long discussions with the Belgian PM and the Danish PM," he said.

"I had a separate bilateral meeting with the Irish PM. So, I spoke with him, we had an excellent discussion," Vucic said, adding that he had also met with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez, Slovenian PM Janez Jansa and many others.

"I believe we have advanced our bilateral relations, we discussed exchanging visits and what we should be doing in the future," he said.

Vucic: Serbia is on EU path, that is our strategic goal

TIVAT - Serbia is on the EU path, and that is its strategic goal, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in Tivat, Montenegro, on Friday.

Vucic is in Tivat for the EU-Western Balkans Summit.

Asked by foreign reporters about his expectations from the summit and whether Serbia was ready to get closer to the EU, Vucic responded that he believed it would be one of the most important summits in recent years. "

In fact, I have already had very good discussions with EU leaders - Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron. And I also believe we will see great progress from Western Balkan countries in the future. Of course, we have to carry out many reforms. But, at the end of the day, there was no preaching or lecturing from anyone. We were treated with true respect, and that is something we appreciate very much," he said.

Asked if Serbia would feel closer to the EU than to Russia, Vucic responded:

"We are on our path to the EU. That is all I can tell you. That is our strategic goal.

Vucic: International understanding, cooperation key to joint future

TIVAT - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday that, at a plenary meeting of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro, he had again presented Serbia's positions on the most important political, economic and security issues, and added that international understanding, cooperation and responsibility were key to a joint future.

"A good and substantial discussion and an even better opportunity for me to again present Serbia's positions on the most significant political, economic and security issues that will shape the future of our region," Vucic posted on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram account.

Vucic added that EU and regional leaders who had gathered at the summit, as well as the fact that different experiences, views and interests converged in one place, lent special value to the conference.

"I believe that international understanding, cooperation and responsibility is exactly where the key to our joint future lies. Numerous challenges are ahead of us, as is a great opportunity to make the region more stable, more successful and more attractive to generations to come," Vucic noted.

European Council President Antonio Costa, who chairs the summit, said it confirmed the priority the EU was giving to its relations with the Western Balkans and enabled the EU to assess the progress made, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Western Balkans belonged in the heart of the EU.

Vucic, Tusk discuss Serbia's EU path, bilateral cooperation

TIVAT  - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Polish PM Donald Tusk in Tivat, Montenegro, on Friday to discuss Serbia's EU path, the EU enlargement process and bilateral cooperation, noting that Serbia was committed to accelerating the implementation of reforms.

"A cordial meeting with Tusk at the EU-Western Balkans summit and an exchange on Serbia's EU path, the EU enlargement process and opportunities for further advancement of Serbia-Poland bilateral cooperation," Vucic posted on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram account.

Vucic added that he had reiterated Serbia's commitment to accelerating the implementation of reforms and to responsible work on the EU path, expressing the confidence the enlargement policy was a key instrument for preservation of stability, security and prosperity across the European continent.

"We reviewed opportunities for strengthening economic ties, trade and cooperation in areas of mutual interest, and our assessment was that the relations between our two countries hold major potential for further advancement," Vucic noted.

Vucic: Important meeting with von der Leyen, Costa, Macron and Merz about Serbia's EU future

TIVAT, - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who is attending the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, Montenegro, said on Friday he had had an important meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, French President Emanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about Serbia's EU future and that he had noted the significance of maintaining a credible enlargement policy and a clear European perspective for the Western Balkans.

"An important meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, Antonio Costa, Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz about Serbia's European future, the EU enlargement process and the steps we are taking as part of our reform agenda," Vucic posted on his buducnostsrbijeav Instagram account.

Vucic noted that he had spoken about activities Serbia was conducting with the aim of meeting its commitments in the accession process, including reforms in the fields of rule of law, electoral legislation and implementation of recommendations by relevant European institutions.

"I noted that Serbia will fulfil all recommendations by the Venice Commission, in line with European standards," Vucic added.

He wrote that the situation in the region and Europe had been discussed as well.

"I noted the significance of peace, stability and cooperation for any further progress, as well as the significance of maintaining a credible enlargement policy and a clear European perspective for Western Balkan countries. I expressed the expectation that the EU will present and advance a new enlargement methodology that will further strengthen the process of the candidates' European integration," Vucic noted.

Earlier, Vucic also met with Slovak PM Robert Fico.

On Thursday, he spoke with Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis.