Kos: Serbia has a lot to offer Europe, work with us on reforms

BELGRADE – EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated in Belgrade that Serbia has a lot to offer Europe and that Europe is looking forward to it. She added that in her conversation with Prime Minister Đura Macut, she extended an invitation to work together on reforms to make Serbia’s EU membership possible. “We now have an opportunity that comes once in a generation to complete the unification of Europe. This is not just about enlargement. Many candidate countries have realized that it is necessary to implement reforms faster than has been the case so far. I would like to see the same happen in Serbia, a country with a rich history and tradition with very valuable and innovative people,” Kos said at a joint conference after the meeting with Prime Minister Macut, adding that she is confident she can count on him as a partner on the path to EU integration.

She emphasized that Serbia has a lot to offer Europe and that Europe is looking forward to it, adding that they presented an offer to Prime Minister Macut for the Serbian people. “It is this – work with us on reforms to make your membership possible. Work with us to establish an independent judiciary that can effectively fight corruption. Work with us to implement laws and establish institutions that will enable free media where all opinions will be represented. Work with us to establish an electoral framework that will ensure that the will of the Serbian people is heard and that decisions are made based on it,” Kos said. The Commissioner also added that without these changes, Serbia cannot progress. “We know that what we are asking for is actually very close to what the people protesting in the streets of Serbia are demanding,” she said, reminding that Serbia has always been a country of great thinkers, a strong society.

She emphasized that she considers her first meeting with Prime Minister Macut to be very positive and that they share the same view regarding solving problems in society where all parts of society must be included, as true transformation, as she said, must come from within, it cannot come from outside. She noted that they talked a lot about Europe’s place in a changing world and about cooperation between the European Commission and the new government of Serbia. “Our continent, Europe, is changing rapidly, we are facing new security challenges and changes in the field of trade. The unity of Europe is, in this sense, the best solution. Our neighbors and candidates are very important here, not only as partners but as EU members,” Kos emphasized, adding that she is very glad to be in Belgrade today and to have had the opportunity to talk with the new Prime Minister. (April 29)