Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic hopes that EU countries will recognize the efforts Serbia is investing in the dialogue with Pristina.

He made this statement in Belgrade on Wednesday as he received Gianni Pittella, president of the group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (EP).

According to the Serbian government, the prime minister "also expressed the hope that EU countries would also recognize other political and economic reform processes and back Serbia's progress on its EU path by opening negotiating chapters."

Pittella "communicated to Prime Minister Vucic the greetings and support by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, noting that Italy and the EP are following with great interest the courageous reforms the Serbian government is implementing."

He also "underscored that in the EP and in his contacts with his colleagues from Germany and other countries, he would advocate opening of negotiating chapters for Serbia. We want to see Serbia and the Balkans in the EU."

Vucic "expressed gratitude to the group of Socialists and Democrats in the EP and Italy for their sincere support."

Italy is among Serbia's most important partners and it is of top importance for us to create a better business environment for new Italian and other foreign investments, Vucic underscored.

"Normalization of relations"
"Formally, a recognition of Kosovo by Serbia is not a condition for Serbia's EU membership, but the EU member states have agreed to tie the European integration prospects of Serbia and Kosovo to the normalization of relations between them," says Gianni Pittella.

As long as the "normalization" of relations between Serbia and Kosovo is a key criterion for the European integration of both sides, the EU parliament, as well as some member states, may remain divided over whether the "normalization" should include mutual diplomatic recognition, Pittella told the Belgrade daily Politika.

"Formally, a recognition by Serbia is not a condition for membership - however, the member states have agreed to tie the European integration prospects of both Serbia and Kosovo to the normalization of relations between them, and that is the right path, the only path that could lead to the future, and not the past," said Pittella, who will on Wednesday host the "Serbia in Europe" convention in Belgrade on improving the economic cooperation between Serbia and Italy.