Joksimović and Rosocha: Slovakia provides significant expert assistance on Serbia’s EU path

Minister of European Integration Jadranka Joksimović has talked today with Fedor Rosocha, the Ambassador of Slovakia to Belgrade, about the continuation of Serbia’s EU accession negotiations, further strengthening of excellent bilateral relations, and the situation in the region.

Joksimović has thanked Slovakia for its principled support to Serbia’s European path and the EU enlargement policy, further informing the Ambassador about the new Government’s priorities regarding the acceleration of reforms necessary for EU membership, primarily in the area of the rule of law, democracy, media freedom, and sustainable development of the Serbian economy.

She has particularly highlighted the policies with which Serbia is currently striving to align to the greatest possible extent, such as the Green Agenda, digitisation in all segments of the society, macroeconomic and economic stability.

Ambassador Rosocha has expressed his belief that next year, despite the unfavourable circumstance concerning the enlargement policy caused by the COVID-19 crisis, Serbia will have an opportunity to accelerate the pace of negotiations by implementing reforms is key areas.

According to him, as a partner and friend of Serbia, Slovakia will provide all necessary assistance in the process of European integration, thus showing that it is a true advocate of the EU enlargement policy. 

Joksimović and Rosocha have agreed that, in the upcoming period, the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans will be a crucial instrument of support for the inclusion of Serbia and the entire region into broader EU flows, adding that projects to be financed therefrom will be the best example of regional connectivity and cooperation, modelled on the practice of the Visegrad Group which Slovakia is part of.

Joksimović has particularly emphasised the importance of the multiannual expert assistance Slovakia has been providing to Serbia in various areas in the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of European integration.

Source: Tanjug