Kurz: Serbia's path to EU clear, irreversible

VIENNA - Serbia's path to the EU is clear and irreversible and Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic deserves the most credit for that, Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz said ahead of Vucic's visit to Vienna on Thursday.

Prime Minister Vucic's visit to Austria reflects the close ties between Serbia and Austria - our relations are intensive and good, not only economically but also humanly, Kurz said in a statement to Tanjug, adding that Austria is the biggest investor in Serbia and that it is home to a large Serbian diaspora.

The topics of the visit will include Serbia's EU integration, strengthening bilateral relations, cooperation regarding the Serbian and Austrian chairmanships in the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - with Austria to take over in 2017 - and the joint fight against jihadism, he announced.

Serbia's path to Europe is clear and irreversible, and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic is to be credited for that - Prime Minister Vucic's government has carried out reforms in the field of labour law and economic legislation, making Serbia a more attractive place to do business, Kurz explained.

Austria is an advocate of a quick start of accession talks with Serbia and European prospects for the entire region, he said.

The Serbian prime minister will be in Vienna on Thursday to meet with Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

Vucic will also be received by Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sebastian Kurz.

At the end of Vucic's working visit to Vienna, he and Kurz will attend a reception for the Serbian diaspora.

Photo Tanjug, D. Stankovic (archive)