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TIRANA – The President of the Government of Serbia, Đuro Macut, stated that at the summit of Western Balkan leaders in Tirana, he insisted on the opening of Cluster 3 and other chapters that have been pending for more than three years. “I believe that Serbia is on the right track, that we have fulfilled a high percentage of the accession elements towards the European Union and that we are on the right path to meet some of our deadlines set for the end of the year and to continue next year with new things,” Macut told Tanjug. He emphasized that the main topics of the summit were in the areas of economy and transport, specifically the connectivity of the region. “We had the opportunity to discuss topics that had already been raised at the London summit, namely the free roaming zone in the Western Balkan region, which is of exceptional importance. What we have already initiated and encouraged is actually the communication of transporters, that is, those who drive trucks in the Schengen Agreement region, as the countries of the Western Balkans are excluded from that part, so we propose a new methodology for calculating the time (of stay) and together with Great Britain, we will submit this to the European Commission as soon as possible,” Macut said.
He assessed his participation in the summit as very operational and constructive. “Serbia has maintained its strategic position and its relationship towards this entire process in Europe, namely the EU as a recognizably good partner in this whole process,” Macut said. When asked on what basis he believes Serbia is close to entering the EU, Macut replied that he believes his assessment is based on real values. “We have established a very intense accession period and together with the President of the Assembly, we are moving towards a process of faster integration of the remaining domestic tasks we have. Given that deadlines are approaching, we must meet certain conditions. I am absolutely convinced that we have technically fulfilled everything and that we are extremely fast in this, and that there remains the political decision which is on the side of the European Union,” Macut said. When asked what he thinks about the so-called phased entry of Western Balkan countries into the EU, Macut replied that there are different views on this issue. “I believe that the EU is still in a transformation of its ideas and we constantly have some developmental elements. And we are somewhere a country that has constantly endured and experienced various changes in accession conditions. But, what is my personal assessment is that perhaps even entry as a group could be possible in the period leading up to final entry. So I think that opens a good perspective, but also a good relationship towards all countries that are in accession negotiations. There should be no distinctions for countries that have been in this process for a long time,” Macut concluded.
Prime Minister Macut participated in Tirana at the Summit of Western Balkan leaders. (November 21)