Czech PM reaffirms support for Serbia's EU membership

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš voiced strong support for Serbia's accession to the European Union during a visit to Belgrade, also advocating for the country's future participation in the Schengen Area.

He argued that Serbia and other non-Schengen countries are doing a better job of protecting the EU's external borders from illegal migration than some current Schengen members, CE Report quotes FENA.

Babiš, who is leading a Czech state delegation on a two-day visit to the Serbian capital, said at a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić that the EU should work to bring Serbia and the rest of the Western Balkans into the bloc, noting that the enlargement process has been ongoing "for decades."

"Unfortunately, at the EU level we are unable to explain why we do not want these countries. Serbia has our support, and that is particularly important for Europe, especially at a time when people speak more about war than about peace," Babiš said.

Vučić thanked Babiš for the Czech Republic's continued support for Serbia's European integration, emphasizing the importance of joining the EU's single market alongside maintaining open borders within the region and with EU member states.

Babiš also recalled Serbia's assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that Serbia donated 100,000 vaccine doses to the Czech Republic at a time when Prague was struggling to secure vaccines through the EU.

"Such gestures are not forgotten," he said.

The Czech Prime Minister also expressed satisfaction with the performance of Czech companies operating in Serbia and highlighted the €2.4 billion annual trade volume between the two countries.

Later in the day, Serbia and the Czech Republic were due to hold a business forum bringing together around 100 companies.

Vučić said the forum would showcase opportunities for expanding bilateral economic cooperation and thanked the Czech government for confirming its participation in EXPO 2027, which will be hosted by Serbia.

Photo Facebook/AndrejBabis