Vucic: Support for the Growth Plan, changed EU approach – good opportunity for Western Balkans

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated today at the Western Balkans-EU Summit in Kotor that Serbia supported the EU's Growth Plan for the region because this type of change in the European Union's approach had brought an opportunity for everyone in the Western Balkans.

"We are very enthusiastic about the Growth Plan. This kind of change in the EU approach has created an opportunity for us in the Western Balkans. Thank you for doing that," Vucic said at the Summit held under the slogan "One Region, Common Vision."

Citizens, even present journalists or participants, don't exactly know all that the Plan entails, he noted, but, as he said, that is understandable because the discussion is not about major political issues but rather about citizens' lives and economic progress.

"That is why we support it," the President of Serbia added.

As Vucic conveyed, all discussions held so far have been good since most issues have been agreed upon, with perhaps one or two remaining from the Serbian side that haven't been accepted yet.

"This plan will bring good results for the region. And I'm not just talking about money. Of course, we appreciate that," Vucic said.

He emphasized that the Growth Plan brought Serbia and the region closer to the European Union.

"Will we be part of the EU or not? I know we won't before Ukraine joins the EU. And whether we will join together with them or not, that is another question. My intelligence tells me I'm right. We will have to wait another six years, which is fine," Vucic said.

He highlighted that precisely because it represented something that brought Serbia closer to the EU, he did not want to diminish the significance of the Growth Plan initiative but that he was grateful for the support.

At the beginning of his address, Vucic briefly commented on the words of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who had previously said that good neighborly relations in the region were necessary, which required de facto and de jure recognitions for peace:

"It is pointless to respond to people who never talk about the economy."