Remarks by President António Costa at the joint press conference with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić

Thank you for your welcome, hospitality and for a good meeting.

In December, when I started my mandate as the President of the European Council, I sent a clear signal of my personal commitment and the priority I attach to the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans. And today, I start here, in Serbia, the visit to all the six Western Balkans partners.

This is the fourth time we meet since I took office last December. The accession process is a trust-building process. We are living a very positive momentum in the European Union for enlargement. And this is a clear opportunity for Serbia to build upon it. The EU remains strongly committed to the accession of Serbia as a stable, peaceful and prosperous country, having dealt with the legacy of the past and having chosen to embrace its democratic and European future.

I was glad to hear that EU integration remains a top priority for you and the new government. What is important now is that this swiftly translates into concrete actions and acceleration of reforms.

As you know, accession is a merit-based process. What needs to be done as a next step in order to open Cluster 3 is very clear and is what we previously agreed to do: enhance media freedom, fight corruption and reform the electoral law. It is good to hear from you, dear Aleksandar, what you are doing to move forward.

This is not an exercise of ticking boxes - these reforms will bring tangible benefits to Serbian citizens. The full alignment with the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy and the resolution of bilateral issues are also essential elements for your accession. The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue is a crucial point.

And of course, we cannot ignore in this regard that, as you know, a key element of our Common Foreign and Security Policy is a clear condemnation of the Russian brutal invasion of Ukraine and the support to Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace.

Dear Aleksandar, enlargement is based on building trust. I know that a lot of people, not only in Serbia, but in the whole region, lost their faith in this process. And I came here today to assure you of my personal engagement and the European Union's full commitment to deliver on enlargement.

I believe Serbia's future is in the European Union. The ball is in your camp, now. And, please, we cannot waste time, the future does not wait - to open Cluster 3 and to continue achieving a successful accession of Serbia to the European Union.