Serbian president reaffirms commitment to EU membership and European partnership

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has reiterated Serbia's commitment to joining the European Union (EU) and affirmed the country's loyalty to Europe.

In a recent statement, Vucic emphasized that Europe holds exclusive access to Serbia's significant lithium deposits, which he sees as a key factor in Serbia’s EU accession aspirations, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Vucic argued that Serbia’s decision to develop its lithium resources in collaboration with Germany and the EU, rather than with China, underscores its dedication to European integration. He highlighted that China has expressed a strong interest in accessing the lithium deposits, but Serbia has opted to engage exclusively with European partners on this matter.

"The Chinese have very clearly expressed their interest in gaining access to this lithium deposit. However, we informed them that we are discussing this exclusively with the Europeans. We are loyal to Europe," Vucic stated.

Vucic’s remarks indicate that the development of Europe’s largest lithium deposit could be a crucial step for Serbia, both in terms of economic growth and accelerating its EU accession process. He expressed hope that the project will significantly benefit the Serbian economy and speed up Serbia’s integration into the European Union.

In addition to reaffirming Serbia’s EU aspirations, Vucic denied any intentions of aligning more closely with Russia or China, rejecting accusations of trying to "sit on two chairs." He clarified, "I sit on only one chair - the Serbian chair. And in what are we getting closer to Russia? I haven't spoken to Putin for two and a half years."

The Serbian president’s statements reflect a strategic focus on deepening ties with Europe while navigating complex international relationships.