PM hosts reception to mark opening of first EU chapters

PM hosts reception to mark opening of first EU chapters

Vucic addressed the gathering to say that "the people of Serbia were very well aware of what we are doing and what we wanted Serbia to look like," emphasizing that "Europe was no longer an unfulfilled dream but rather something we could really reach."

"We will continue to set the bar high, we will do the remaining part well, honestly and more quickly than is usual," Vucic said.

"Many thanks to all the people in the Serbian government who understood what needs to be done; they worked hard but have, unfortunately, been criticized a lot for their efforts," Vucic said.

He also thanked President Tomislav Nikolic, Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic, and diplomatic representatives for sincerely wishing Serbia to make progress on its European path.

"We also owe our gratitude to civil society, independent institutions and NGOs," said the prime minister.

Head of the EU Delegation in Serbia Michael Davenport pointed out that the opening of the two chapters was "a historic step making Serbia's European perspective very tangible." In a statement for B92 made during the reception, Vucic said there was "no room for euphoria" but that "no one must underestimate the importance of the day when Serbia opened the first chapters."

Asked "whether a long and painstaking process was ahead of Serbia" - and whether our country could become "another Turkey, Bulgaria, or Romania" - the prime minister made a reference to a tabloid specializing in supernatural topics, saying that this publication "also writes about the end of the world, yet nothing happens."

"It all depends on us," he said, adding that "the day behind us is important, but the process itself is much more important."

"Of course, there will be political pressures, pressures over chapter 35 (on Kosovo), but we are ready. We will work to improve our economic circumstances, for Serbia to become a normal, decent, and well ordered country," Vucic said.