Slovakia supports Serbia's EU path, eyes closer cooperation: PM

Slovakia looks forward to further improve bilateral and economic cooperation with Serbia, and supports its European Union (EU) path, as well as closer cooperation with the Visegrad group, Prime Minister of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini said here on Thursday after meeting with his Serbian counterpart Ana Brnabic.

At the meeting, Brnabic and Pellegrini talked about Serbia's path to EU membership, situation in Serbia's southern province of Kosovo and Metohija that unilaterally seceded in 2008, cooperation on border control, national minorities as well as further improvement of bilateral ties.

According to the press release of the Serbian government, Pellegrini pointed out that Serbia is Slovakia's most important partner in trade and investments in the Western Balkans and that there is room for further improvement.

He repeated that Slovakia remains a promoter of EU enlargement and Serbia's accession, announcing assistance in opening of remaining chapters of the EU acquis.

Moreover, he announced that Slovakia, during its chairmanship over the Visegrad group (Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland) plans to organize a summit together with Serbia to discuss its EU membership, as well as its possible membership in this group.

Brnabic thanked Pellegrini for Slovakian support in European integrations, for not recognizing Kosovo, as well as for the 142 police officers that help secure Serbia-Bulgaria border.

She said that trade exchange between the two countries in 2018 increased by 10 percent compared to the year before, to the value of 566 million euros.

Brnabic reminded that Slovaks were declared a national minority in Serbia in 2010, which enabled them to further maintain their language, identity and culture.

The two leaders signed an agreement in order to settle Serbia's 25-year-old debt to Slovakia.

The funds coming from Serbia's debt payment to Slovakia on account of debt will be invested in improvement of the position of Slovakian minority across the world, Pellegrini announced.