Serbia’s PM: We’re closing Pandora box; EU in our interest

Speaking at the seventh “EU-South-East Europe Summit" in Belgrade, Brnabic also said that it was in Serbia’s interest to join the European Union as soon as possible, but if that did not happen in 2025, “it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

“Even if Brussels told us we could join tomorrow,” she said, “I would say no, we are not ready. The membership demands from you to be strong enough, to carry out reforms.”

Commenting on Kosovo issue as a crucial for Serbia’s accession, Brnabic said: “We are now trying to close the Pandora box, and that is a cowardly talk that the status quo is an all right situation and that the Kosovo issue should be left for our children to deal with.

She added it was “difficult to understand the courage of the President Aleksandar Vucic to solve the Kosovo problem.”

Asked about the possibility of Belgrade's recognition of Kosovo’s independence, she said she did not believe that would happen.

“I see myself as a liberal, but that is an extremely emotional question, and that’s a difficult topic to talk about,” Brnabic said.

But she added she was proud of Serbia’s tolerance and its search for a compromise in the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue, “despite the provocations” from Kosovo.