Brnabic meets with Brophy

DUBLIN - Serbian PM Ana Brnabic met on Friday in Dublin with the chairman of the Republic of Ireland's parliamentary committee on European Union affairs Colm Brophy, noting that Serbia naturally belonged in the European family of nations and that the entire Western Balkans belonged there as well.

During the meeting, which concluded her two-day visit to Ireland, Brnabic also noted that Serbia had made evident progress in the EU integration process, and underscored the significance of Ireland's support for opening chapters and, more recently, clusters with Serbia in the EU accession process.

Thanking Ireland for being one of the most prominent advocates of EU enlargement, Brnabic said this was important for the entire Western Balkans region and the best way of ensuring peace and stability as key preconditions for economic progress and better life for all people in the region.

Brnabic said the discussion with Brophy, as well as Thursday's meetings with Ireland's PM Leo Varadkar, Foreign and Defence Minister Micheal Martin, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney and the CEO of the country's Industrial Development Agency Michael Lohan were a certain path to advancement of overall bilateral ties.

Stressing the significance of experience-sharing between the two countries in the innovative economy, Brnabic added that it would be the pillar of cooperation in the period to come.

She said there was significant space to expand bilateral economic cooperation and added that the volume of bilateral services trade currently stood at 500 mln euros but was certain to grow in the future.