Djuric: EU membership is in Serbia’s interest, dialogue with Pristina slowed down due to unilateral actions by the other side

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Marko Djuric, began his two-day visit to the Netherlands by participating in a roundtable discussion at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, where the main topics included Serbia’s EU membership and European security. Djuric reiterated that full EU membership remains Serbia’s key strategic priority, while also noting that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has slowed in recent years due to unilateral actions by Pristina.
“In recent years, Serbia has been focused on strengthening its economic development, building infrastructure, and enhancing relations with foreign partners, primarily with the EU. For this reason, the Government has made full EU membership its key strategic priority,” Djuric stated, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Minister emphasized that Serbia aims to complete legal and social reforms by the end of 2026, and to that end, a comprehensive reform agenda has already been adopted. He assured that the implementation of these reforms will not be hindered by the ongoing protests in Serbia.
"Serbia’s economy is progressing steadily, and its strength has more than doubled in just one decade. This is not just a matter of self-praise; it is something visible and tangible in state revenues, the quality of public services, and the standard of living of our citizens," Djuric explained.
He added that strong economic growth has resulted in Serbia attracting the majority of foreign direct investments in the Western Balkans, including Dutch investors, who have established successful businesses in the country.
According to him, placing political emphasis on EU membership is Serbia’s undeniable interest, given that the country conducts the majority of its foreign trade with EU member states.
"We are burdened by some inherited challenges, such as the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, which has progressed at a slow pace in recent years due to Pristina’s unilateral actions," Djuric stated.
He explained that this issue complicates Serbia’s relations with parts of the international community, as Serbia does not want to be defined by a single topic.
Djuric highlighted that Serbia’s foreign policy is significantly influenced by its historical role as one of the leading capitals of the Non-Aligned Movement, which continues to benefit the country in its relations with Asian, African, and Latin American nations.
Additionally, Serbia enjoys significant economic benefits from numerous free trade agreements, making it one of the few countries in Europe, alongside Switzerland, with such extensive trade privileges.
"I mention all of this because it is essential for understanding the essence of Serbia’s policy. If we had held this roundtable 15 years ago, the main topics would likely have been ideological or territorial issues. Today, however, the paradigm of Serbian politics is shifting towards economic and infrastructural development, the fight against corruption, economic and social mobility, and social justice," Djuric stated.
He further emphasized that Serbia is among the European countries with the largest number of neighboring states, making good-neighborly relations one of the pillars of its foreign policy.
"Over the past few months, I have worked intensively on strengthening relations with our neighbors, particularly with those with whom dialogue has been neglected, as well as with those already in the EU, where we can find mutual benefits and shared interests through cooperation," he concluded.
Upon his arrival, the Serbian Foreign Minister was welcomed by Monica Sie, Director-General of the Clingendael Institute.
As part of his visit to the Netherlands, the Serbian Foreign Minister will also meet with his Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp.
During the first day of his visit, Djuric will meet with Christophe Kamp, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities. Tomorrow, Djuric will meet with Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary-General of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, and will also hold discussions with members of the European Affairs Committee of the Dutch House of Representatives.
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