President of the Republic of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić met earlier today with the Ambassador of the Republic of Portugal to Serbia, Maria Virginia Mendes da Silva Pina, to discuss the priorities of the six-month Portuguese presiding over the European Union Council.
During the meeting, President Vučić pointed out that Serbia remains committed to its European path and reforms and cooperation with the European Union institutions. "Serbia provides full support and contribution to all projects implemented by the EU both in Serbia and in the Western Balkans region", President Vučić said. He offered full cooperation of Serbia in strengthening the capacity to react to public health crises.
President Vučić expressed hope that during the six months of the Portuguese presidency, the European Union will overcome the challenges and achieve its priority goals, including the economic recovery of the EU and getting out of the crisis. "I also hope that Portugal, during its presidency, will put emphasis on the enlargement of the European Union to the Western Balkans," added President Vučić.
Discussing the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština, the two interlocutors expressed their support for the efforts of Miroslav Lajčak in the negotiation process.
Ambassador Mendes da Silva Pina emphasised that the main motto of the Portuguese presidency was "the time for a just, green and digital recovery" and added that her country would make efforts to mark the beginning of a new cycle in Europe in the next six months, given the difficulties and challenges that COVID-19 pandemic imposed on the European Union, Serbia and the whole world. She pointed out the strengthening of the social model as a central topic of the presidency, to encourage citizens' trust in the European Union.
Ambassador Mendes da Silva Pina congratulated President Vučić on the achieved economic results, which last year proved to have been better than in many EU member states.
Belgrade,
4th January 2021
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