Starovic: Serbia Fully Committed to EU Path; Plakolm: You Can Count on Austria

Serbian Minister for European Integration, Nemanja Starovic, met today in Vienna with Austria’s Federal Minister for the EU, Integration and Family, Claudia Plakolm, to whom he conveyed that the Government of Serbia remains fully committed to the path toward European Union membership. Minister Plakolm affirmed that Serbia can count on Austria’s support along its European path.

Following the meeting, Minister Starovic highlighted that the fact that Vienna—alongside Brussels—was chosen as his first bilateral destination in his new ministerial role speaks to the strong relations between the two countries and Serbia’s gratitude for Austria’s support in the European integration process.

He noted that Minister Plakolm is deeply committed to this shared goal.

“The Serbian Government, which was sworn in just over a month ago, is fully dedicated to EU membership. That commitment is consistent, and we are working daily to implement the necessary reforms that will allow us to seize the momentum created in recent months and years in support of EU enlargement,” Starovic stated.

He expressed confidence that the time has come for Serbia to open negotiations on Cluster 3.

“We’ve had the green light from the European Commission to open negotiations on Cluster 3 for three and a half years now, and we believe the time has come to act. I kindly ask for your support in organizing an intergovernmental conference with EU member states and finally opening Cluster 3 by the end of July,” Starovic appealed to Minister Plakolm.

He emphasized Serbia’s commitment to the full implementation of reforms in the period ahead.

“We had a friendly and constructive discussion,” Starovic said, extending an invitation to Minister Plakolm to visit Serbia as soon as possible.

Minister Plakolm reiterated that Serbia can count on Austria’s support on its EU path.

“Twenty years ago, we promised that the Western Balkan countries, including Serbia, could become members of the EU—with all the rights and responsibilities that entails. We must keep that promise—we cannot allow more decades to pass,” she underlined.

She pointed out that Austria supports the European integration of the Western Balkans as one of the priorities of its new government, and emphasized the importance of a gradual integration process and concrete steps in EU enlargement.

“We count on the Serbian Government, and we look forward to welcoming you into the EU in a few years. Until then, you can count on Austria as a steadfast partner on your European path,” Plakolm stressed.

Minister Starovic also posted on the social platform “X” that during his conversation with Minister Plakolm, he expressed deep gratitude for Austria’s unwavering support in Serbia’s EU accession process and underscored the need for Serbia to open Cluster 3 as soon as possible in order to make further progress in its European integration.