TIRANA – Serbian Prime Minister Đuro Macut announced that during the summit of Western Balkan leaders in Tirana, he advocated for the opening of Cluster 3 and other chapters that have been stalled for over three years. “I believe Serbia is on the right path, having met a significant portion of the requirements for EU accession, and we aim to adhere to deadlines set for the end of this year while also advancing new initiatives next year,” Macut stated to Tanjug. He noted that key summit discussions focused on economic and transport issues, particularly regional connectivity. “We addressed topics previously raised at the London summit, such as establishing a free roaming zone in the Western Balkans, which is critically important. We are facilitating communication for transporters operating in the Schengen Agreement area, where Western Balkan countries are not included. We propose a new methodology for calculating stay durations, which we will submit to the European Commission alongside Great Britain as soon as possible,” he explained.
Macut characterized his summit participation as highly operational and constructive, asserting that Serbia has maintained its strategic position and reputation as a reliable partner in the EU process. When asked how he perceives Serbia’s closeness to EU membership, he cited real values as the basis for his assessment. “We have entered a dynamic accession phase, and together with the Assembly President, we are prioritizing the swift integration of remaining domestic requirements. With deadlines approaching, we need to fulfill certain conditions. I am confident that we have technically accomplished everything required and are progressing quickly; the remaining barrier is a political decision from the EU,” he noted. Regarding the idea of a phased entry for Western Balkan nations into the EU, Macut acknowledged varying opinions on the matter. “I believe the EU is still transforming its approach, and we are a country that has consistently adapted to changing accession conditions. My personal view is that a group entry could be feasible before final admission. This would promote a positive outlook and foster good relations among all countries engaged in accession negotiations, without differentiating between those long involved in the process,” Macut concluded.
Prime Minister Macut attended the Summit of Western Balkan leaders in Tirana on November 21.
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