Austrian FM backs Serbia’s EU integration, says all Balkan countries must be included

Austria’s Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that he “would like to see Serbia receive the EU candidate status this fall”.

If it were up to Austria, the answer would be ‘yes’, but it requires the agreement of all 27 EU member states, he said.

Spindelegger said that he is also in favor of having all of the Balkan countries integrated into the EU.

“Serbia’s progress towards the EU is not separate from Belgrade’s relations towards Kosovo,” he noted. The EU must follow a clear path and define its expectations towards Belgrade and Pristina, the Austrian official added.