BERLIN, Might 4 (Reuters) – Serbia should press forward with reforms, together with on media freedom, to grasp its ambition of becoming a member of the European Union, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned on Wednesday, including he wished all Western Balkans international locations to develop into members.
“For Serbia it will be significant that it continues its path of reforms and that features on media freedom and preventing organised crime,” mentioned Scholz at a joint information convention with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Earlier, at a information convention with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Scholz made clear that he considered the Western Balkans international locations as belonging to Europe.
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“In future, all its international locations should belong to the European Union,” he mentioned, promising to do what he might to assist the method.
Within the second half of the 12 months, Scholz will journey to the area, which incorporates Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Albania, in addition to Serbia and Kosovo. He may also invite the international locations to talks on regional cooperation.
Vucic reiterated his nation’s ambition to affix the EU.
“It’s Serbia’s option to be on the European path and Serbia is absolutely dedicated to that. Disregarding opinion polls which present that it (the EU path) shouldn’t be the preferred, Serbia’s management will help that path,” mentioned Vucic.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has needed to steadiness its European aspirations and partnership with NATO with its centuries-old spiritual, ethnic and political alliance with Russia.
Belgrade has voted towards Russia on the United Nations however stopped wanting imposing sanctions towards it.
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Reporting by Madeline Chambers and Sarah Marsh, Ivana Sekularac in Belgrade and Fatos Bytyci in Pristina; Enhancing by Kirsten Donovan
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