Vucic: Slovenia wants Western Balkans in EU by 2030

“I think European leaders aren’t prepared to accept that,” Vucic said after a meeting of the European Peoples’ Party (EPP) in Ljubljana prior to the European Union-Western Balkans summit. Vucic said that he has no illusions about quick EU membership but added that it’s important for Serbia to be on the European path with close cooperation with the EU since more than 60 percent of its exports are to the Union and because it belongs to Europe.

The Serbian President said the decision on Serbia’s membership is political, adding that the country is a leader in terms of the integration process. He said that the Serbian public is right to want to maintain ties with countries outside the EU as well.

He said that the Slovenian initiative won the support of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurtz. According to Vucic, a suggestion was made to put the initiative into the declaration from the summit but three countries openly opposed it.