"EU path unequivocal for Serbia"

"EU path unequivocal for Serbia"

A common foreign and security policy is a matter that the Serbian government fully appreciates, and we are aware that we need to gradually adjust our foreign policy to the foreign policy of the EU, Joksimovic said during the international conference entitled 'The European Union and the Western Balkans 2015-2020 - chances for partnership and mutual doubts' organized in Belgrade on Friday by the Institute for Public Policy. Nevertheless, we still have not opened any chapters in the talks, and this is a point which everyone has to bear in mind if they intend to ask Serbia to take such a step, she added.

Joksimovic underscored that Serbia is participating in almost all EU peacekeeping and civilian missions, except in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and added that the country is providing a contribution to the joint security and safety policy.

It is completely clear to us that our EU path is unequivocal, she said.

Joksimovic said that Serbia's EU integration process is beyond doubt the best course in terms of reforms in the country's society, and recalled that the main criteria for EU membership comprise rule of law, economic reforms and strengthening of public administration.

Enlargement policy is the most successful EU policy and it serves mutual interests, she underscored.

Opening the meeting, President of the Institute for Public Policy Mijat Damjanovic said that Western Balkan countries are well on their EU path and expressed the hope that the path would be successfully completed in the second decade of the century.

The situation in the Western Balkans is worse now than it was in Eastern Europe prior to the major enlargement and we need to try and find joint energy and driving force, he said.

The Friday meeting was attended by former president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, European Parliament member and Vice President of the European People's Party Mario David, Under-Secretary-General and UN Special Adviser on Innovative Financing for Development Philippe Douste-Blazy.