Schroeder: Serbia should move forward to EU, not backward

It is important whether Serbia will move forward along the EU path, or decide to go backward, former German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Thursday.

Recommended

Addressing foreign and domestic businessmen and young entrepreneurs in Belgrade, Schroeder said that for the EU, Serbia is a key country in the Balkans, and that is why its development is important not only for Germany, but also for entire Europe.

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.

(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)