At the summit with the European Union, the representatives of the countries of the Western Balkans received nice speeches without any serious promises. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučič rightfully experienced the biggest disappointment. Serbia is a very important partner for the EU in terms of strategic raw materials or assistance with migration. That is why it should be accepted into the Union as quickly as possible, announced the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Thursday in Brussels. TASR informs about it.
“I very clearly supported Serbia in my speech,” Fico said, adding that “it is a country that has helped the EU incredibly in protecting its borders against illegal migration.” According to him, Serbia is also important in the case of lithium reserves needed for the production of batteries.
Fico criticized the informal dinner that followed the summit. “It was supposed to be attended by representatives of the European Council, that is, prime ministers and heads of state, together with prime ministers and presidents who make up the Western Balkans region. A I don’t think it’s right when in the middle of such a dinner, half of the prime ministers and presidents get up and walk away,” he said.
According to him, they went to a meeting regarding the issue of sending troops to Ukraine. “I think that the mouths of the representatives of the Western Balkans remain hot. Perhaps their disappointment was even greater when their trip ended like this,” he declared, adding that there was no political will for immediate expansion.
The leaders of EU member states and the Western Balkans agreed on Wednesday at a joint summit that in the context of the geopolitical situation caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, it is strategic partnership between the Union and the countries of the mentioned region more important than ever before.
The text agreed by the heads of government and state of the EU and the Western Balkans specifies that both sides have a common future and face challenges that they can only overcome together, and that building a future of peace and prosperity must be based on common principles, values and interests. “The future of the Western Balkans is in the EU,” the statement reads.
