Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Monday that it is Serbia’s responsibility to implement reforms that benefit the country, while the decision on its European Union accession lies with Brussels.
“It is up to us to carry out reforms that are good for our country. Whether the EU admits us or not is their decision,” Vucic said, adding that Serbia would fulfill its obligations, but it remains to be seen whether the EU would meet its own.
“We will meet our obligations. Whether they will meet theirs is another question — it wouldn’t be the first time they failed to deliver on promises. I won’t remind you of the 2013 Brussels Agreement,” he added.
Vucic was responding to comments by Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, who said the EU was unlikely to admit any new members apart from possibly Montenegro, and by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who said Vucic’s recent visit to Moscow complicates Serbia’s accession prospects.
“She repeats it like a parrot every time. It seems she has nothing else to say — for ten days now, whatever the question, the answer is ‘Vucic went to Moscow,’” the president said. “When she meets with me, she’s less articulate.”
Vucic said both sides should focus on doing their respective jobs. “Whether they admit new members or not is up to them,” he said.