European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said 18 July could be celebrated as the day Serbia opened two key chapters in its negotiations with the EU, adding that there was a chance of opening four additional chapters by the end of the year.

“Much work has been done and Serbian Government showed that it assumed the obligation to undertake credible reforms aimed at modernising Serbia for the benefit of its citizens,” said Hahn at the press conference following the EU-Serbia Intergovernmental Conference.

“Our focus now is on the implementation of these ambitious reforms,” Hahn said, reminding that to advance on the EU integration path it is necessary to normalise the relations with Kosovo and implement reforms in the area of rule of law.

Despite hard times and the crisis in the EU, we prove Serbia has its own place in the European family, Hahn said.

Noting the Croatian request for Serbia to amend its law on jurisdiction, he underlined that said law is not part of the EU acquis and that some of the EU countries also had similar legal provisions.

Miroslav Lajcak, Foreign Minister of Slovakia, the country chairing the EU Council, said the EU opened two key chapters with Serbia, whereas Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic noted that it showed Serbia’s strategic path and demonstrated its commitment and dedication to fulfil all the tasks set before the country.

“This is a major breakthrough in negotiations with Serbia and we encourage it to stay the course,” Lajcak said.

Lajcak stressed that his country set the priority of EU enlargement high on its presidency agenda.

Slovak presidency is committed to maintaining the credibility of the process, he added and noted that opening of two important chapters with Serbia sent a strong message and signal to all the Western Balkans countries.

Serbian PM Aleksandar Vucic said that was a big day for Serbia and its citizens and thanked his European friends Miroslav Lajcak, Johannes Hahn and “other EU friends for supporting Serbia’s EU path.”

“We are aware that we will have difficulties and obstacles on that path, especially in the implementation of these two important chapters, but that we are determined to fulfil the expectations and deliver results,” Vucic said.

He said the rule of law will be a major incentive for foreign investment.

“Serbia has one of the highest rate of economic growth in Europe and I believe this trend would continue in future. We look forward to further cooperation with the EU and we will be dedicated to this process and path, even though we are aware of all the obstacles and know it is not an easy one,” Vucic said.

“We want that type of society and remain firmly on the path towards the EU,” Vucic underlined.