Friedrich: Serbia has key role in stabilization of Balkans

BERLIN - Peter Friedrich, Baden-Wuerttemberg's minister for the Bundesrat, Europe and International Affairs in the Bundesrat (Federal Council), has said that Serbia plays a crucial role in stabilization of the Balkans, adding that Belgrade has to work at full speed on normalization of relations with Pristina.

Friedrich, who met with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic in Stuttgart on Wednesday, expressed support in Berlin for the proposal of the European Commission to open Chapter 32 referring to financial control in Serbia's EU accession negotiations as soon as possible.

The issue of Kosovo should not hinder the opening of the negotiating chapters if their content is not related to the process of normalization of relations with Kosovo, reads the statement issued by the state government in Stuttgart.

This could strengthen Serbia's credibility, which is necessary for the reforms in the area of public finances, Friedrich said.

Friedrich underlined at a meeting with EC Director General Christian Danielsson in Berlin that the European perspective of the western Balkan countries is an important political topic for him, stressing that the statements by EC President Jean-Claude Juncker that a phase of consolidation is needed in the EU enlargement process, must not lead to weakening efforts in the EU integration process of the Balkan countries.

The EU accession process makes it possible for the states to implement necessary reforms and to promote their economic and political development even further. Connecting with the Western Balkan countries is also in the interest of the EU. Serbia plays a key role in the stabilization of the Western Balkans, Friedrich said, reads the statement.

Baden-Wuerttemberg put forward a...