Kaja Kallas: Overcoming the past is essential – I will soon invite Belgrade and Pristina representatives to Brussels

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, emphasized at a press conference in Belgrade that overcoming the past is crucial and announced her intention to soon invite representatives of Belgrade and Pristina to Brussels to discuss their relations and the continuation of dialogue.

Kallas underlined that Serbia’s political goal remains EU membership.

“During my visit, I met with President Vucic, Prime Minister Macut, the Speaker of the Parliament, representatives of the opposition, and youth organizations. Views differ, but there is consensus on Serbia’s European path, the need for reforms, and the importance of dialogue with Pristina. Let me start with EU enlargement – we are deeply committed to enabling all Western Balkan countries to seize the current momentum. This process has been ongoing for some time, but there is always a political momentum, and that moment is now. A united Europe is a vision we must all work toward. From my discussions with Serbian leadership, it is clear that EU membership remains a top political priority,” said Kallas.

She added that concrete actions must follow this commitment.

“There are no shortcuts – we must see tangible reforms on the path to membership. The next steps are clear: freedom of the media, the fight against corruption, electoral reform – and these reforms must be genuine, not just box-ticking exercises. These reforms will also deliver what the citizens are demanding – including the autonomy of universities, which must be respected,” she stressed.

Kallas emphasized the need to overcome the past and build a shared future. To this end, she plans to invite representatives of Belgrade and Pristina to Brussels in the near future.

“Our discussions also touched upon borders, which are of European concern. Serbia stands before a strategic choice regarding its future direction, but values must also be part of the conversation. We also discussed Serbia’s relations with its closest neighbor and the normalization of relations with Kosovo. This is not just about bilateral ties, but about moving beyond the past and focusing on a common future. I plan to invite representatives from both Belgrade and Pristina to Brussels as soon as possible to discuss these matters and the dialogue. I also highlighted the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as regional peace depends on it,” said Kallas.

On the topic of normalization with Pristina, Kallas stated that she would be traveling to Kosovo from Belgrade and would address all existing issues during her visit.

She noted that a new Special Representative will focus on the normalization process between Belgrade and Pristina.

“I’m new to this process and cannot yet assess or comment on what has worked or not, but what’s important is that we will work on it,” Kallas stated.

Regarding the separation of powers, she stressed that for the EU, this principle is essential and expected from candidate countries.

“Courts must be independent, free from external influence, and that must be the standard practice in candidate countries,” Kallas said.

Asked about Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s visit to Moscow, Kallas explained that she had already discussed the matter with him at the European Political Community Summit in Tirana.

“I raised the issue of the Moscow visit in Tirana and told President Vucic that I couldn’t understand the significance of standing shoulder to shoulder with a man committing aggression in Ukraine. President Vucic explained his position, and we had a very intense exchange on the matter. We also discussed this with the Serbian Government. We expect candidate countries to align their foreign policies with the EU. If you want to be part of the EU, we must work together and stand united,” Kallas emphasized.

Commenting on the dissatisfaction among Serbian citizens with the pace of European integration, she said the process is merit-based.

“I understand that people are frustrated by how long the process takes because they don’t always see tangible benefits. But I can say there is strong political momentum right now, and it must be used. Estonia had a brief opportunity to join, and we seized it at the right moment. After that, the door closed. EU enlargement is a merit-based process. I come from a country that has advanced greatly since joining the EU, and the prosperity of our people has increased. I agree that we in the EU also have homework to do to reduce this frustration,” said Kallas.