Serbia seeks sincere EU relationship and gradual regional integration

At the BELTALKS conference in Belgrade, Serbia's acting Foreign Minister Marko Đurić stated that the country seeks an open and sincere relationship with the European Union based on mutual respect and concrete benefits. Đurić highlighted an initiative by President Aleksandar Vučić and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama regarding the gradual integration of the Western Balkans into the EU, aiming to transform the approximation process into tangible results for citizens and the economy.

Đurić emphasized that Serbia intends to leverage its strategic geographic position to become a regional hub for economy, politics, culture, and technology. He advocated for ideas that could accelerate and simplify the accession process, suggesting that candidate countries should gain access to certain benefits of the EU single market before full membership, similar to the six billion euro Western Balkans Growth Plan.

Separately, former Minister for Social Dialogue Gordana Čomić addressed the necessity of internal and external dialogue. She argued that EU officials should engage directly with Serbian citizens to understand various perspectives on integration. Čomić also noted that Serbia must confront historical issues from the 1990s and its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal to ensure that past events do not hinder future progress.