Deputy Head of Austrian Mission in Belgrade Sabine Kroissenbrunner welcomed the opening of another two negotiating chapters, but said that there was more to EU integration than chapters being opened and closed.

“It is about having a comprehensive vision of common future and it is about you assuring us that you are willing to join the EU in every possible sense: political, economic and in the sense of shared values. That is beyond chapters,” Kroissenbrunner said.

“We can support your efforts,” she said “by strengthening the dialogue at all levels, be it among schools, students or politicians. We witness frequent visits at the highest level.”

“Staying on the path is crucial, but this is something that cannot always be weighed against chapters,” she said.

Kroissenbrunner said that the Embassy of Austria has been taking part in Open Doors events for years, seeing it as an opportunity to bring citizens closer to Austria.

Austria is the biggest investor in Serbia and is supportive of Serbia’s European path; she said and reminded that Austria was home to large Serbian diaspora of some 300,000 people.