Von Beckerath: I hope the day will soon come when Serbia joins the EU

Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath hosted a reception this evening marking Europe Day, from where he conveyed his deep hope that the day would soon come when Serbia joins the Union and “enriches the colorful European tapestry with its unique culture, spirit, and national identity,” RTV reported.

“Europe Day is about choice, it is about unity, and our motto ‘United in Diversity’ is the essence of our collective strength,” von Beckerath said.

He noted that, in a divided world, this principle serves as a reminder that differences are not barriers, but bridges.

“United voices create tone, and different voices create harmony, and that is what the European Union stands for — complementary voices coming together in harmony for peace and progress,” von Beckerath stated.

He invited everyone to raise a glass to Europe and to shared values, “to the promise that diversity is strength and that the future is brighter when we build it together,” Tanjug reported.

The ceremony marking Europe Day was attended by Serbian National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabic, Serbian Prime Minister Djuro Macut, ministers Marko Djuric, Ivica Dačic, Nemanja Starovic, Sara Pavkov, Tatjana Macura, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Plamena Halacheva, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Serbia Alexander Titolo, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of religious communities, public and political figures, and members of the media.

Prime Minister Macut and Ambassador von Beckerath toured the exhibition “United in Diversity – Many Identities, One Shared Vision,” organized on the occasion of Europe Day, which through artistic installations presents the development of the European idea and the importance of preserving peace and unity across the continent.

Europe Day, celebrated on May 9, commemorates the Schuman Declaration of 1950, the foundational document that marked the beginning of the creation of today’s European Union.

The Schuman Declaration was published on May 9, 1950, and represented the initial blueprint for the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community, founded primarily by France and the Federal Republic of Germany, from which the European Community and later the European Union would emerge.