Malta's PM visits Belgrade, backs Serbia's EU bid

Malta's PM visits Belgrade, backs Serbia's EU bid

Vucic "expressed gratitude to Malta for its great support and help to Serbia on its European path," the government website reported, and quoted the prime minister as adding:

"I am convinced that we can expect the support of Malta in the EU enlargement process in the future too. According to the rotating system, Malta will take over the EU presidency in early 2017. I am very grateful that this country has made the decision that the meeting of the working group for the EU enlargement be held in Belgrade."

He pointed out that Serbia and Malta "can improve trade relations, which are at a low level, and announced that the Maltese minister of energy will hold talks about investments in renewable energy sources."

"We could improve our relations in this field and get some investments," Vucic said, thanking Muscat "for praising the Serbian community in Malta and saying that it is a well-integrated and good part of that country's society."

Vucic said that the talks also dealt with tourist exchange and it was noted that more frequent flights could increase the number of tourists from Malta in Serbia and vice versa.

Muscat stated that he wants the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries which have been at a low level to date, which is illogical, he noted, since both countries could have had great mutual benefit.

He pointed to the geographical position of Serbia and the importance of its market, and also to the position of Malta in the heart of the Mediterranean, close to Africa.

The Maltese prime minister confirmed that Malta "might invest in Serbia, as it is investing in Montenegro, through its state-owned enterprises and in cooperation with Chinese partners," the Serbian government said.

Muscat stated that Malta was "very well aware of the problems which EU candidate countries are facing and that it is ready to help."

He underlined that the aspirations of Serbia's citizens to membership in the EU are legitimate and that Malta supports Serbia's EU membership, and that it is also conducting a consistent policy and advocates EU enlargement to the countries that meet the criteria.