Kallas in Belgrade: Serbia must prove that it truly aims for EU membership

The European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has said that Serbia must prove through actions and reforms that it truly intends to join the EU.

Speaking at a press conference in Belgrade, Kallas said that she discussed EU membership, the Brussels dialogue and other issues with senior Serbian officials.

"It is clear that EU membership remains Serbia's strategic goal, however, I want to emphasize that we need to see actions that prove this and back up these words. Reforms are what show how Serbia will move forward on its path towards the EU," Kallas said.

She stressed that progress must happen "here in Belgrade" and added that the next steps Serbia must take are very clear, and they include media freedom, the fight against corruption and electoral reforms.

"The reforms will bring real benefits to the citizens and people of Serbia, as hundreds of thousands of students have demanded in recent weeks. The autonomy of universities must be respected. Serbia's future in the EU depends on the values ​​it chooses to pursue," she said.

Kallas underlined that Serbia's ties with its neighbor, Kosovo, are not just about improving relations, but are "decisive" for Serbia's future in the EU.

"The time has come to overcome the past and focus on the common future. I plan to invite representatives of Belgrade and Pristina to Brussels as soon as possible to talk about concrete steps forward," she underlined.

According to her, the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina on the normalization of relations is "a necessity to move forward" in that direction.

"Now is the time for re-engagement," Kallas wrote on her account, on the X platform.

Kallas said she is "deeply committed" to encouraging all Western Balkan countries to "truly seize the current momentum we have in the enlargement process."

"Yes, this process has been underway for quite some time, but there is always a political moment, and this political moment is now - a United Europe is a vision that we should all work towards," she stressed.

The EU's chief diplomat will be in Kosovo on May 22, as part of a regional tour that began on May 21, with a visit to Serbia.

During her visit to Belgrade, Kallas met on Wednesday night with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who said that his country "remains a reliable partner for all who sincerely want cooperation, progress and a common European future."

The President of Serbia claimed, in a post on his Instagram account, that he and Kallas discussed key geopolitical issues, the security situation in the region, Serbia's European path, and the dialogue with Kosovo.

He said that he emphasized to Kallas that "Serbia is committed to constructive dialogue with EU mediation, as a way to resolve open issues, and that the protection of Serbs in Kosovo is our absolute priority."

Vučić said that he reminded the EU's chief diplomat that "the Association of Serb-majority municipalities is not only an obligation we have agreed on, but also a prerequisite for further progress in the dialogue, and for any normalization of relations."

She also met with Prime Minister Gjuro Macut, as well as Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starovic, and Speaker of Parliament Ana Brnabic, and opposition parliamentary groups.

Asked by reporters whether she had spoken to President Vučić about his visit to Moscow on May 9, Kallas said she had expressed her position, which is "very clear."

"I don't understand why it's important to stand shoulder to shoulder with someone who is leading a terrible war in Ukraine," she added.

She reiterated that the European Union expects candidate countries to align with its foreign policy.

"Do you want to be with us? If so, then we will work together and this is what we expect from candidate countries," she stressed.

"In Kosovo, High Representative Kallas will meet with representatives of political parties and civil society organizations," the EU announced.

Before meeting with them, the head of European diplomacy has planned to hold a press conference in Pristina on Thursday afternoon.

Kallas will visit Kosovo at a time when Kosovo authorities are repeating calls for the lifting of EU measures against the country, and have even requested that this happen before the continuation of the dialogue with Serbia, which the EU is mediating./ REL