Tusk: Poland supports Serbia's EU path, EU incomplete without Serbia

BELGRADE - Polish PM Donald Tusk said on Thursday in Belgrade his country supported Serbia's EU path and that the EU was incomplete without Serbia.

"Poland will take over the EU presidency soon, and enlargement and the closest possible cooperation with Serbia will be my priority during the Polish presidency," Tusk said at a press conference after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Palace of Serbia.

He added that Poland welcomed Serbia's economic success and that an economically strong Serbia was beneficial to the EU.

"We support regional cooperation, especially the Open Balkan initiative, launched by Serbia, Albania and North Macedonia, as well as the Berlin Process. We are aware of the ambitious plans Serbia has when it comes to the Growth Plan in order to accelerate its European path," Tusk said.

He noted that bilateral relations with Serbia and, in particular, strengthening of economic cooperation, were important to Poland.

"My friend Aleksandar Vucic told me he would like to see this region in the European Union soon and that he supported the start of negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia because, as he says, when you have successful neighbours, the whole region is successful," added Tusk, who delivered the opening part of his speech in Serbian.

Tusk, who has also served as European Council president, noted that his opinion on Serbia had not changed throughout the years and that he had always thought the same about Serbia, its place in Europe and the Serbian-Polish friendship.