The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaya Kallas said today after a meeting with Serbian officials that Serbia must clearly define its strategic direction and implement the necessary reforms if it wants to progress on the path to membership in the European Union. This was reported by the regional television channel En1, BTA reports.
„My message to the authorities in Belgrade is clear. I want to see Serbia progress towards the EU. To achieve this, political leaders must implement the necessary reforms and clearly define a strategic direction. This is done by restoring trust and consistency in the implementation of democratic principles,“ said Kallas.
Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Matsut held talks with Kallas on the possibilities of accelerating the country's European integration, as well as on the progress of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, the Serbian government informed.
Matsut stressed that Serbia remains firmly committed to its European orientation and expressed hope that concrete steps in this process will soon be taken. He gave as an example the expected opening of Cluster 3, the preparation of which has been going on for three years.
According to him, Serbia is fully committed to implementing reforms that meet EU criteria, noting that these changes are essential, above all, for the well-being of Serbian citizens.
The meeting was also attended by Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović, EU Special Envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Peter Sørensen, and Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Emmanuel Joffre.
Kaia Kallas arrived in Belgrade the night before today, where she was met at the airport by Foreign Minister Marko Đurić. In addition to meeting with the Prime Minister, she spoke with President Aleksandar Vučić, as well as with representatives of the opposition.