German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he wants all Western Balkans countries to join the EU but that Serbia must press ahead with reforms, including on media freedom, before it can join.
“For Serbia, it is important that it continues its path of reforms, and that includes media freedom and fighting organised crime,” said Scholz at a joint news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Berlin.
Vučić stated that he and Scholz discussed bilateral relations, economic cooperation, the situation in the region and geopolitical issues.
The Serbian President also reiterated that Serbia is fully committed to joining the EU despite this not being so popular with public opinion.
Earlier on Wednesday, at a news conference with Kurti, Scholz reiterated that he viewed the Western Balkans countries as belonging to Europe. “In future, all its countries must belong to the European Union,” he said, promising to do what he could to help the process.
