European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined to meet with Serbian Prime Minister Miloš Vučević during her visit to Belgrade. The reason was the Prime Minister’s recent talks with a Russian minister, according to N1.
A representative of the European Commission told the agency that it was concluded that there was no point in a meeting between von der Leyen and Vučević. The reason was the announcement of the Serbian Prime Minister’s meeting with Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov.
The announcement stated that the parties aimed to strengthen cooperation between Russia and Serbia in the economic sphere and beyond.
N1 noted that the government sent a message to the media about the outcomes of Vučević’s meeting with Reshetnikov, but it was not published on the official website.
The statement said that the officials discussed further strengthening economic and joint cooperation.
Serbia’s EU accession
Serbia seeks to join the European Union. Negotiations for the country’s accession to the bloc began in January 2014.
President Aleksandar Vučić has also expressed Serbia’s desire to join the EU.