Fico: Serbia Should Join European Union As Soon As Possible

Brussels, December 20 (TASR) - Serbia is a very important partner for the European Union (EU), both in terms of strategic raw materials and assistance with migration, and should be admitted to the Union as quickly as possible, yet its representatives received only pleasantries at the EU-Western Balkans summit and no serious promises, Prime Minister Robert Fico said in Brussels on Thursday. "In my speech, I very clearly supported Serbia," stated Fico, adding that "it's a country that has massively helped the EU in protecting its borders from illegal migration". He also emphasised Serbia's importance regarding lithium supplies needed for battery production. Fico was also critical of the informal dinner that followed after the summit. "It should have been attended by the representatives of the European Council, i.e. the prime ministers and heads of states, along with the prime ministers and presidents who make up the Western Balkans region. And I don't consider it right that in the middle of such a dinner half of the premiers and presidents upped and left," he noted. According to Fico, they left the dinner for a meeting to discuss the issue of sending troops to Ukraine. EU and Western Balkan leaders agreed at a joint summit on Wednesday that the strategic partnership between the Union and the countries of the Western Balkans region is more important than ever, especially in the context of the geopolitical situation caused by Russia's war against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East. lin/mf