"Realistic for Serbia to join EU by 2020" - Schroeder

"Realistic for Serbia to join EU by 2020" - Schroeder

He described as realistic Serbia's goal to join the EU by 2020, voicing confidence that Serbia is an anchor of stability in the Balkans and should remain to be so after the forthcoming elections as well.

"It is my duty to support those political forces in Serbia pushing for the country's EU path, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in particular. A politically stable, socially fair and economically successful Serbia, which advances along its EU path, is in the interest of all of us in Europe, not only Serbia," Schroeder said.

A European Serbia is also needed to make sure that the political situation and co-existence of peoples in the Balkans develop without tensions and to find a solution to the refugee crisis, the former German chancellor noted.

Significant decisions are ahead for Serbia, which needs to continue on the EU and reform paths because that is the only way it can develop in a socially just and economically successful manner, he said.

Serbia needs the EU just like the EU needs Serbia, the former top German official said, reiterating that Serbia's future unambiguously lies in the EU and that EU member states share this view.

The Serbian government needs to bind itself to continue on the European path, where it is backed by Germany, Serbia's dependable partner in European integration, Schroeder noted.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has demonstrated this clearly over the past years, Schroeder said, noting that, since the democratic changes in Serbia, Germany has been the country's biggest donor among EU states, with EUR 1.6 billion donated.

The progress towards the EU will make Serbia more attractive to investors and it is definitely a country with enormous potential, he said.

Aleksandar Vucic on Thursday urged Schroeder to help Serbia attract new investors from Germany and across Europe - from the West, as well as from the East.

For Serbia, it is important that it can learn from Schroeder how to encourage entrepreneurial spirit and implement tough reforms such as those Schroeder himself initiated and carried out in Germany, transforming the country into an economic giant, Vucic said.

Continuing reforms is exceptionally important for Serbia's further progress, Vucic said.

"We want a state that does not need to take from anyone, but ensure the conditions for people to do their jobs," Vucic said at the working luncheon.

Quoting official figures from the IMF, the World Bank and other institutions, Vucic said that Serbia has managed to reduce its deficit drastically, adding that its growth rate will exceed three percent next year.

Serbia has moved up from the 91st to 59th place on the World Bank's Doing Business list, and it expects to climb further to the 45th position, Vucic said.

"We would like to make Belgrade a digital hub," Vucic said, adding that he believes that Belgrade and Serbia are the ideal place for that, and that Serbia wants speedy development as three-percent growth is insufficient to catch up with European countries.