Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg visiting Belgrade

Photo: Tanjug/AP

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg is today visiting Belgrade.

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According to announcements, he will meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, and Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic, with whom he will hold a joint press conference.

Schallenberg is coming to Belgrade after Austria forwarded its "non-paper" to EU members, that regards changing the accession process and proposes a gradual inclusion of candidate countries into EU institutions, policies and funds.

Austria is proposing a gradual inclusion of EU candidates because of the war in Ukraine, believing that the crisis is threatening the Eastern Neighborhood Policy and could have negative consequences on the stability of the Western Balkans.

Schallenberg and Austrian Minister for the EU Karoline Edtstadler, who are the authors of the "non-paper," pointed out that EU enlargement is not just a bureaucratic procedure but a powerful geostrategic instrument.

"The current procedure has not brought any significant results in recent years. What's more, it has led to growing frustration and alienation of the region and the EU. We must overcome the current stalemate by analyzing all options," Schallenberg and Edtstadler stressed in their letter to EU members.

In an interview for Tanjug ahead of the visit, Schallenberg said that a credible European perspective of the Western Balkan countries is now more important than ever, and that Serbia can always count on the support of Vienna on its European path.

Asked what message he is coming to Belgrade with, Schallenberg stressed that Russian aggression on Ukraine can cause huge negative consequences for the stability of the entire Western Balkans, which is why he said he is coming with a very clear message.

"A credible European perspective is more important than ever because of this serious situation. We promised that to the countries of the Western Balkans, including Serbia. That is why I will appeal on our Serbian partners to clearly declare themselves in favor of the values of European integration. Serbia can always count on full support on its path to the EU," said the head of Austrian diplomacy.

After Belgrade, Schallenberg will, as announced in Vienna, travel in Pristina, where he will meet with Vjosa Osmani, Albin Kurti and Donika Gervala-Schwartz.

(Telegraf.rs)