Vucic: The situation in Europe is more complicated than before the First World War

The President of Serbia says at present no one in Europe can say whether or not 2025 will remain as a deadline for full membership of that country in the European Union, but that Serbia should finish its job.

There is a different climate in Europe, never such a complicated situation in the world was, even before the First World War, President Aleksandar Vučić noticed, commenting on the views of the Netherlands and France regarding the opening of chapters for candidate countries in June and the position and prospects of Serbia in that context.

"It's not that I prejudice anything, but it was not even before the First World War," he told reporters in Baku, but insisted on the assessment that the circumstances in Europe and the world are complicated and complex and that there are many dangers that surround us.

In this situation, he said, it is better to look at preserving peace and stability and working on the development of the economy.

In that regard, he added, in an unsettled position, Macedonia and Albania, which, as he presumes, will be praised in June, "not to say that it is a catastrophe and that they have not received anything," but believes that they will not be allowed to open chapters.

Pressure on Turkey

When it comes to Serbia, and on whether the question remains whether in 2025, as a year to enter into full membership in the European Union, Vucic says that no one is able to say at the moment.

"You think they know it, anyone in the EU. But first we do our job, the rule of law, various freedoms, to finish it, and then remains the most difficult obstacle, the normalization of relations with Pristina ... So - is it Anyone knows if this will happen and how - it can only be speculated, "he said, adding that no one knows under what conditions everything will happen, there will be a new wave of refugees, from Syria, certainly, perhaps double, triple-larger from the previous ...

He also mentioned the pressure on Turkey and announced a change in the position, perhaps the position, of Italy in the European community.

As he said, pressure on Turkey is high, therefore, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he has scheduled elections earlier because he expected pressure, but he added that he hoped Turkey would be able to defend itself.

"I am confident that Turkey and the Turkish people will be able to defend themselves," he said.

When it comes to opening new chapters for EU candidate countries, Vucic said that he should wait and see what will happen in June, but he noticed that it was already clear at the EU summit - the Western Balkans in Sofia that it would not "go easy" .

More rigid attitude of France and the Netherlands

Simply, says, a different atmosphere in Europe, France and the Netherlands have a somewhat more rigid attitude regarding chapters and new members, other countries more liberal ...

"You saw, after all, the statement of Salvingi [Mateo, the leader of the League for the North], and they will now represent the Italian government. It was also one of the main topics at the European People's Party meeting in Sofia recently, which is now the biggest problem in Europe ... They announce that they will do everything opposite to the previous government, that it may even come out of the euro zone, we will see ... ", said Vucic.

We in Serbia, he added, should preserve peace and stability in this and develop the economy.

"To continue this way, now they respect us in the world, we will be in a much better position than we were, but also in the better than the countries that were in front of us. Let's skip some conflicts and we have growth of more than four percent this year, so 4.5 percent next and slowly to provide a safe and better future for our citizens, "he concluded.

• 22 May, 2018
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