Brnabic: Italy's stance is that Serbia should join EU even before 2030

ROME - Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic said on Wednesday in Rome Italy, alongside Hungary, was the greatest advocate of Serbia's EU integration and that it directly and proactively urged EU member states to open Cluster 3 in the accession talks with Serbia.

"Italy's stance is that Serbia should join the EU even before 2030. I do not think that is realistic because I think there are member states that are skeptical, but I think it is important for people to know that is Italy's stance," Brnabic told reporters after a visit to Rome.

She added that Italy communicated its position in a clear and unequivocal manner in all EU forums and at all levels in the EU itself, be it in the European Parliament or the European Commission.

Brnabic said Italy was a great and committed friend and that the friendship between the two countries was growing stronger every day.

"We certainly expect our government to hold a fourth joint session with the Italian government," Brnabic said.

She said she had invited Italian Chamber of Deputies Speaker Lorenzo Fontana to visit Serbia to sign a comprehensive agreement on parliamentary cooperation between Serbia and Italy.

After that, the two sides will see how Serbia's presence in the EP can be advanced, regardless of the fact Serbia is not an EU member, she said.

Recapping her visit to Rome, Brnabic said it had been good and that all efforts - especially those made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to build a relationship with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni - but also efforts by the Serbian government and the parliament had paid off.

"It seems that we have never had so close - not only good, but close - relations with Italy before, and that is what the atmosphere at all important meetings was like," Brnabic said.

She said that, besides Fontana, she had also met with the Chamber of Deputies' Foreign Affairs Committee chair Giulio Tremonti, as well as with Stefania Craxi, who chairs the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.

"Those were the three most important meetings and they were also extremely important politically because the three (officials) are representing three different parties that are a part of the ruling coalition - Forza Italia, Lega and Brothers of Italy, so we had an opportunity to speak with officials of the three parties and leaders of their foreign policy committees," Brnabic said.