Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said in Belgrade that the challenges faced by Serbia and the Czech Republic are shared, that both countries want to be strategically independent so they need to utilize the resources they have.

Addressing a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Fiala said both Serbia and the Czech Republic have vast lithium reserves, and that he wants to see them used to create a supply chain.

He explained that the Czech Republic is looking to reduce its energy dependence on Russia, that it is working on developing nuclear energy, and is in the process of finalizing a contract with the winner of the tender to build new nuclear capacities.

Serbia faces the same challenges and is addressing its energy transition in a similar way, looking for solutions, said Fiala, adding that this is a path that requires courage, and the Czech Republic is a country within the European Union that advocates for the acceptance of nuclear energy to achieve goals.

The Czech prime minister also noted that the countries of the Balkans should not remain on the doorstep of the European Union (EU), and that his country will strive to shorten Serbia’s path to EU membership, always supporting Serbia’s accession.