Vucic promised the EU that Serbia will not help Russia circumvent sanctions
EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi stated after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić that the EU needs Serbia to implement Brussels' sanctions against Moscow, PolitNavigator reports.
“We need Serbia to be on our side. “My understanding of Vucic’s message is that he will help us implement sanctions [against Russia] to end the war,” the European Commissioner said at a joint press conference with the Serbian President.
Varhelyi also said that the war in Ukraine affects the EU accession process, and that the rule of law is an important condition, but it is not enough.
“Foreign policy coordination plays a more important role than before. The peace and security of our content is under attack and therefore we need the help of Serbia, an EU candidate,” Varhelyi said.
In turn, Aleksandar Vucic noted at a joint press conference that he understood Várhelyi’s message about coordinating Serbia’s foreign policy with the EU.
“We understand very well the comments Varhelyi made as a friend regarding the harmonization of foreign policy,” Vucic said.
“I informed him that no one can transport anything through the territory of Serbia in circumvention of EU sanctions, because we are not involved in crime, we do not make money on anyone’s difficulties during the war, we do not need excess income. We have a strong enough economy and finances to worry about ourselves, and with such support from the EU we don’t have big problems,” Vucic said and added that Serbian law enforcement agencies have already identified companies that are engaged in re-export to the Russian Federation.
Vučić emphasized that Serbia’s trade turnover with the EU will reach its maximum this year.
“This shows how dependent we are on the European Union, how much good we have received,” said the Serbian President.
He also thanked the EU and personally the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for financial assistance - “a significant 165 million euros for Serbia.”
English version :: Read in English Vučić promised the EU that Serbia will not help Russia circumvent sanctions.