Đurić at the Ministerial Meeting of the "Friends of the Western Balkans" Group in Rome

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Marko Đurić, in his address at the ministerial meeting of the Friends of the Western Balkans group in Rome, emphasized the importance of global and regional initiatives and Serbia's commitment to the European integration process, while reaffirming that the main challenge remains the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

On this occasion, the minister expressed his satisfaction at being able to address the gathered officials at the beginning of what he described as a particularly important year for Europe as a whole, and especially for the region.

Speaking about Serbia's commitment to European integration, Đurić recalled that over the past two and a half years, significant reforms have been initiated, including the adoption of a series of legal reforms that have been praised and recognized by the EU.

The Serbian Foreign Minister highlighted the significance of this overall process, as the government has officially set December 31, 2026, as the deadline for implementing all necessary legal, political, and legislative reforms to align with EU standards.

"I believe this is good news for Serbia, and I am confident it could also be good news for Europe," Minister Đurić emphasized.

According to him, Serbia has also taken over the presidency of the Central European Initiative (CEI) this year, stressing that this leadership role will be used to foster regional connectivity and enhance infrastructure development.

Among Serbia's many achievements, Đurić singled out the country's aspiration to be a leader in economic growth in the region. However, he reiterated that Serbia’s primary challenge remains the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

"We welcome the appointment of Mr. Peter Sørensen, whose role in this process we will strongly support. In the coming days, I will meet with him and seek to encourage an approach that places confidence-building measures at the center of attention. I believe we can strengthen efforts to implement the agreements reached so far and other commitments undertaken, while also identifying new initiatives that would be beneficial for both sides," the minister stated.

The head of Serbian diplomacy also underscored the importance of Serbia’s presidency of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, adding that today's meeting in Rome is also an opportunity for discussions with regional officials on proposals for making this presidency even more effective.