Serbia Hopes It Will Become EU Member by 2020

• 08.17.2016, 13:41
•  Europe

Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic speaking in parliament announced that they will become the next member state of the European Union.

His agenda included promises to raise living standards, continuing the EU integration process and focusing on regional stability.

He said: "The road to membership will be path of challenges but if 28 European countries could do it before us, Serbia can do it, too,'' The Express reports.

The Prime Minister promised the EU integration process would influence the pace of investment, stating Serbia will continue working on opening EU negotiating chapters as fast as possible.

He went on to say he hoped the process would be complete in 2020 and that meeting EU conditions would lead to respect for the country which would benefit the nation.

A number of politicians, among them Scandinavian ones, support Serbia's motivation to join the European Union. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Loefven said in Belgrade the other day that his country, in particular, was supporting Serbia's path towards the EU.

"We will also cooperate on the issue of migrants and the refugee crisis, in which Serbia has taken a huge responsibility, Loefven said, ANSA reports, ''We will expand and develop our trade and cooperation, our trade will develop. It is very good that Serbia and the prime minister are also very careful about developing good relations with the neighborhood, which is very important for the whole of Europe."

Meanwhile, though, Serbia has sought to balance its historic ties with Moscow with the proclaimed goal of joining the EU. This Balkan nation remains Russia’s only non-NATO ally in the region where Moscow holds traditionally strong influence. Belgrade has refused to join the EU’s sanctions against Russia for its policies in Ukraine, while Moscow has supported Serbia’s claim over Kosovo.

Analysts predict that Serbia will continue with the same policies under the new government as there is no pressure on Serbia to choose between Russia and the West.