Gentiloni: Serbia's EU integration should go step further

BELGRADE - Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Paolo Gentiloni stated on Tuesday that Italy is certain Serbia's European integration process should go a step further and added that all conditions have been met for the European Commission (EC) to adopt a decision to open negotiating chapters in the months to come.

We cannot delay the process (of European integration) because Serbia has taken on all the obligations and is working on their fulfilment, Gentiloni told a joint news conference with Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic, and expressed the belief that all conditions have been met for the EC to adopt the decision to open the chapters in the months to come.

Gentiloni stated that the two countries share excellent political and economic relations and announced that Italian President Sergio Matarella would visit Belgrade on May 25.

He noted that the two countries should stage a joint government session soon.

Italy is Serbia's first economic partner and a country that supports its EU path most, Gentiloni said.

He noted that Italy also appreciates the work done by Belgrade within the dialogue with Pristina.

BELGRADE-PRISTINA TALKS ARE KEY FOR SERBIA'S EU INTEGRATION

Serbia's Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said on Tuesday that the country's progress in EU integration would depend on whether there was any progress in the talks with Pristina.

Serbia will fulfil everything stated in the Brussels agreement and involved in the implementation plan, but it cannot be held responsible if someone sets new requirements, Dacic remarked after a meeting with Italy's Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni.

He informed Gentiloni that the screenings for all the chapters of the accession talks...