Serbia to join EU "in reasonable time"

Serbia to join EU "in reasonable time"

BELGRADE -- Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said Wednesday that Serbia will achieve its goal of joining the EU in a reasonable time.

Davenport said that Serbia is close to being offered EU membership and it should derive a lot of benefit from the accession process.

The challenges are many in the Western Balkans, including the ones concerning European integration, but I am confident that the Serbian government is committed to pursuing Serbia’s European path, Davenport said at a meeting at the Serbian parliament discussing 10 years of Lithuania’s achievements in the European integration process.

Davenport said that a recent visit to Belgrade by European Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule has confirmed EU’s commitment to further enlargement, as the commissioner pointed to a multiple significance of the process and priorities facing Serbia.

Speaking about benefits of EU membership, Davenport pointed to Lithuania as a success story at economic, social and societal levels.

Lithuania’s former Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis said that Europe needs Serbia and Serbia needs Europe, adding that Serbia’s greatest achievement is its commitment to keeping peace and stability in the region.

"Functional part"

Jadranka Joksimović, Serbia's minister without portfolio responsible for EU integration, has said on Wednesday that the only proper goal for Serbia is to become a functional part of the European Union, and called on its members to back further EU enlargement.

"The EU member states should back the enlargement, as principles and values that it is advocating for contribute to stability, not only of...