Vucic Talks to EU Officials in Brussels

Kaja Kallas, Aleksandar Vucic, Brussels, Dec. 3 2024 (BETAPHOTO/European Council/NICOLAS LANDEMARD)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met in Brussels on Dec. 3 with European Council President Antonio Costa, EU high representative for foreign and security policy Kaja Kallas and other senior EU officials on Serbia’s European path, Kosovo and reforms.

Vucic wrote on Instagram that he told Costa that “I am concerned about the latest escalation of the security situation in Kosovo and Metohija and I called on the EU and its member states to increase their engagement and support.”

“The EU high representative for foreign and security policy talked about the necessity of establishing dialogue with Pristina, resolving the Banjska case and introducing sanctions against the Russian Federation. I replied in accordance with Serbia’s policies and interests,” Vucic wrote, adding that the talks “were open and difficult.”

Vucic discussed speeding up Serbia’s European path with Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and implementing the EU’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, reform activities and results, especially in the area of the economy.

The Serbian president also talked to EU special envoy for the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina Miroslav Lajcak whom he told that Belgrade was read to cooperate to find the culprits and masterminds of an incident in Varage where an explosion damaged the Ibar-Lepenac water supply canal.

After meeting with Director-General of Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations Gert Jan Koopman Vucic wrote on Instagram that Serbia “is devoted to fulfilling reforms and harmonization with European legislation” and that Serbia’s “objective is to wrap up this job over the next two years.”

In Brussels Vucic also met with U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs James O’Brien with whom he discussed the situation in Kosovo.

Addressing journalists after the meeting Vucic said that he expected Kaja Kallas to visit Belgrade in February as well as that Miroslav Lajcak would visit Belgrade in January before his term ended.

Commenting on Pristina’s "non-paper" on the explosion in the Ibar-Lepenac canal, Vucic said that it was disgraceful, “worded stupidly” without a shred of evidence and reiterated that Belgrade and the Serbian authorities had nothing to do with the incident.

Vucic is visiting Brussels in response to an invitation from European Council President Antonio Costa, who organized an informal dinner for the leaders of the Western Balkan Six.