Vucic: Poland exceptionally significant partner, messages about EU membership important

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday Poland was an exceptionally important partner to Serbia, not only because of its EU accession path but also when it comes to bilateral relations and trade.

Vucic was speaking at a joint press conference with Donald Tusk after a meeting with the Polish PM, who is on an official visit to Serbia.

Vucic said Tusk and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis had conveyed very important messages to him regarding EU membership, opening up new perspectives and giving a new hope that Serbia could expect a different relationship in the future if it did all it was required to do.

"Last night and this morning, I had the honour of speaking, in a serious and responsible way, with Donald Tusk, one of the most significant European leaders," Vucic said at the Palace of Serbia, noting that he was honoured by Tusk's visit to Belgrade.

He said he particularly wanted to thank Tusk for coming to Belgrade in the past as president of the European Council and for often bringing the best messages for Serbia, including in 2018, "when there were numerous doubts about the European path and about whether Europe wants Serbia."

"He has brought encouraging messages, but he also wanted to hear Serbia's stances and hear out the position of our country," Vucic said.

Vucic said Poland was an extremely significant partner and that bilateral trade with the country had totalled around 2 bln euros in 2023, and that, based on Q1 figures, it was expected to rise further this year.

He added that Poland had progressed from being Serbia's 27th-largest trade partner a decade ago to the seventh, eighth or ninth place, which he said reflected its growing influence in Serbia, above all, in the economy.

"I asked Tusk to help us to start cooperating in the innovation and startup spheres - where Poland is successful - as well as when it comes to biotech and (science and technology) camps because we think that Serbia, too, has know-how that it can offer to Poland," Vucic said.