EU membership remains top priority - Serbian FM

EU membership remains top priority - Serbian FM

The pledge made in the Thessaloniki document to the countries of the region that they will become full EU members once they meet the requirements inspires the hope that our efforts to build democratic societies and competitive economies - within a wider region committed to peace and stability - will be recognised by the EU, Dacic said.

He noted that the Balkans had made "a barely average success" in the EU integration process, but that their enthusiasm continued to be quite considerable.

Dacic said that the economic and migrant crisis, Brexit and growing terrorism threats might have reduced the appeal of the European Union, but a policy of laying down conditions created the impression of inequality in the eyes of candidate countries.

"No one should forget that the enlargement policy has been one of the most successful in the history of the European project, which has inspired the transformation of a large number of states, and expanded room for freedom and prosperity. In that respect, the integration of the Western Balkans would strengthen the European idea when the member states are facing the challenges and doubts that might blur its importance," Dacic said.