Today in Brussels, the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabic stressed that it is important for the EU to expand to the entire Western Balkans as soon as possible as this would resolve many open issues in the region, all the while pointing to the results that Serbia has achieved in the past 11 years.
At the EU - Western Balkans Summit Brussels, organised by the Friends of Europe think tank, Brnabic said that she believes that we should not "compete with each other in the Western Balkans, in terms of joining the EU", but that we should stand up for each other.
"It is important for the EU to expand and accept the entire Western Balkans into the EU as soon as possible, and then obviously all other partners and friends who aspire to join the EU", stated Brnabic during the panel "EU Enlargement: the role of norms and values on the road to accession".
She added that in the case of the Western Balkans, it is not about expansion, but inclusion, and indicated that the region is surrounded by the EU.
"It is about making the EU whole. I think it is really equally important for the EU to accept the Western Balkans as it is important for the Western Balkans to become part of the EU. I think we both have our own interests in this," said Brnabic.
She also assessed that the whole narrative about there being some who are lagging behind "will in the end be bad for the Western Balkans", stating that while it can encourage one part of the Western Balkans, it may discourage other parts of it.
"I think it is important for the Western Balkans as a whole to join the EU. And I do not think it is a big challenge for the EU," said Brnabic.
She said that she personally believes that, regardless of the merit-based process, the Western Balkans should simply become part of the EU.
"I think that it would solve many open issues in the Western Balkans," said Brnabic.
In this context, she added that the open issues this does not resolve, will be made easier to resolve because the borders themselves will become less important and will bring benefits in terms of economic prosperity.
When asked if other leaders in the region have the same vision, Brnabic said that she does not know, but that she would not like to see the Western Balkans compete because she does not see any benefit in it.
Speaking of what Serbia has done and can do, she primarily pointed to the importance of the economic perspective and stated that "if people live better, if they have good jobs, if they see a perspective for their families and their children, then they will look to the future and have something to look forward to".
"They will not forget about the past, but it will become less of a problem for them," said Brnabic.
She added that Serbia has changed a lot in the last 11 years and stated that in 2012 the net average salary in Serbia was around 350 euros, with an unemployment rate above 26% and youth unemployment rate of around 53%.
Brnabic pointed out that this has changed, with the average net salary in Serbia today being around 900 euros and an unemployment rate of 8.1%, youth unemployment rate of 21.5% and a public debt of around 48% of GDP, stating that there is a clear prospect of things getting better.
"What we know is that we have an interest in regional peace and stability," said Brnabic.
She added that whatever happens anywhere in the region will directly affect Serbia and added that it is in Serbia's interest to preserve security, stability and prosperity in the region.
"In my opinion, again, returning to the economy, we need more visionary leaders who think about the economy," said Brnabic
Source: TANJUG
