Johannes Hahn has an important message for Serbia: "Now is the time to grab the opportunity"
- Serbia is recognized as a leader and I believe that Serbia will be an example - said the Enlargement Commissioner
Serbia's European perspective is "real" and Serbia now has a unique opportunity to "grab" it, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Johannes Hahn said on Twitter, who is visiting Belgrade one day after Strasbourg presented the EU Enlargement Strategy for the Western Balkans.
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- The strategy provides Serbia with instruments to transform its strategic goal towards EU membership into reality. Reforms and progress, translated into concrete benefits, are also what citizens expect- Hahn said.
Hahn, who published several messages and photos on Twitter on his visit to Belgrade, he praised Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in separate "twit" for a "constructive approach" and efforts to promote regional co-operation.
- Serbia can be a model for the whole region in this regard - Hahn said.
He added that he talked with Vucic about the consequences of the EU's enlargement strategy in the Western Balkans and reiterated that for the first time, Serbia has been given an indicative timeframe for joining the EU.
- These are good news for Serbia and its citizens - Hahn said.
He stressed that he also had a very "good and constructive meeting" with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnavic and Minister of Eurointegration Jadranka Joksimovic on the strategy and the next steps on the path to reform in order to achieve the European perspective of Serbia.
According to Hahn, he and Brnabic fully agree on the potential of the new EU Enlargement Strategy for the Western Balkans for Serbia and the wider region.
- Serbia is recognized as a leader and I believe that Serbia will be an example - said the Enlargement Commissioner.
He added that Serbia will have "full support" of the EU on its path to membership.
- Just now we signed two important agreements on bordermanagement funded w/ EUR 28 million and an agreement which will help Serbia to deal w/the challenges following the migration and refugee crisis, worth € 16 million - he wrote.
He stressed that his first mission to Serbia, following the adoption of this strategy, shows the EU's great commitment to Serbia's road to enlargement.
(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)