Accession of Serbia to the European Union

First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has met with the EU Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

Aleksandar Vucic spoke Friday in Belgrade with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn about Serbia's EU path, the situation in the region and the dialogue with Pristina.

According to a statement from his office, the president pointed out that full membership of Serbia in the EU represents Serbia's foreign policy priority.

The EU will try to, through accession talks chapter 31, "force Serbia to change its attitude towards Russia - but Belgrade could still remain close to Russia."

Sputnik is reporting this, noting that Serbia will start negotiations on the chapter, that relates to alignment of foreign and security policy, in October.

There can be no peace and stability in the Balkans without Serbia - just as there can be none in the EU if it does not encompass the Balkans, says Ivica Dacic.

According to Serbia's foreign minister and first deputy PM, "EU enlargement is an investment in the security of Europe" - while EU integration is Serbia's "basic goal."

The EU, too, intends to press Serbia over the Serbian-Russian Humanitarian Center (RSHC), Vecernje Novosti writes on Thursday.

The Belgrade newspaper adds that the shutting down of the center, located in southern Serbia, could be made a condition for chapter 31 in Serbia's EU accession negotiations.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Saturday spoke with regional prime ministers in Durres, Albania, and "expressed Serbia's commitment to regional cooperation."

PHOTO: TANJUG / SAVA RADOVANOVIC

Aleksandar Vucic says he does not share David McAllister's stance that the rule of law is the key area for Serbia's progress on the path toward EU membership.

President Aleksandar Vucic's comment this week that the country does not have the courage to change its constitution has revived speculation about alleged unofficial requests from EU states for Belgrade to drop its constitutional preamble which defines Kosovo as part of Serbia.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic says "the future of the citizens of Serbia lies in the EU."

The new government will continue to actively work to have Serbia approach to the European community, she told the new head of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, Sam Fabrizi, on Friday.

''Bulgaria is one of the strongest supporters of the idea of EU enlargement. We will do everything needеd to see in the report of the  European Commission for Serbia's progress and the Western Balkans as well. It's has to be adopted in April 2018 under our presidency.''

This is what Bulgarian  Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva told the Serbian state television, quoted by BGNES.