Djuric: Serbia ready to create network of friends in new EP

BELGRADE - Serbian FM Marko Djuric said on Tuesday the recent European Parliament elections had demonstrated there were major differences among the national policies of EU member states and that the citizens of those states wanted a slightly different policy at the level of European institutions.

Speaking to Euronews Serbia, Djuric said Serbia was analysing the results of the elections closely as they held great significance for its European perspective and integration.

"At the (Foreign) Ministry, we are making a list of MEPs with whom we are planning to establish close and intensive cooperation. There are people of Serbian origin there, too. Serbia is preparing seriously to lobby for its case in the EP. And I think it is very important that we approach that in an organised manner from day one," Djuric said.

"We are trying to create a network of friends. There is no caucus in the EP in the way there is one in the US Congress, but Serbia will have a network of friends in the new EP and I think that is good," Djuric said.

"Evidently, many people in the previous EP did not look favourably upon us politically," Djuric said, adding that he wanted Serbia to utilise the potential that was being generated now to approach actively the process of building new relationships with new MEPs.

He noted that the political group of which Serbia's ruling Serbian Progressive Party was a member had done extremely well in the EP elections and said he believed many MEPs in the group would support Serbia's efforts to accelerate its EU integration process.