Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has stated today that, during the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Serbia has shown to Austria and all other EU member states that they can count on it in difficult times and that Serbia can participate in common EU policies in the right way. She has further emphasised that Austria is one of the EU countries that has for years been actively providing support and assistance to Serbia on its European path.
At the ceremony organised on the occasion of Austria delivering humanitarian aid to Serbia, Joksimović has stressed that the two countries foster partnership on several levels, both through Austria’s support to the EU approximation of the entire Western Balkans, and through special technical and financial assistance to Serbia, primarily through economic activities of Austrian companies, which have been intensive for a great number of years.
“Austria has also been providing us assistance through people who are bridges of additional cooperation, connecting our two countries, as well as in bilateral relations where it openly and sincerely shows interest in the development of Serbia, the Western Balkan region and South East Europe,” said Joksimović at the ceremony organised in the Red Cross of Serbia, attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić, Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and Federal Minister of Austria for the EU and Constitution Karoline Edtstadler.
Joksimović has recalled that Austria very actively assisted Serbia in tackling the consequences of the 2014 floods, when significant amount of assistance was delivered through the Red Cross intended for affected cities and municipalities in Serbia.
She has added that the Austrian Development Agency has also supported the project for the development of the Danube Region in Serbia in the amount of EUR 19.5 million, where one the most significant projects was the reconstruction of the Golubac Fortress that was completed last year.
“All this has been connecting Austria and Serbia for years, and today’s arrival of two ministers from the Austrian Government is proof of Austria’s sincere interest and its support to the entire Western Balkans,” said Joksimović.
She has stressed her expectation that Austria’s active assistance to Serbia on its European path will continue in the future, reiterating that it is expected that Serbia will open some of the new chapters by the end of June.
Source: Tanjug
Photo: Tanjug, MFA, MEI
