Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic called on the European Union to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania as soon as possible since, as she said, that was crucially important for the Western Balkans, BETA news agency reported.

Brnabic underlined Serbia’s “full and unreserved” support of its neighbors’ European integration.

“Serbia appeals to the EU and its member states to positively decide on the opening of the accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia in the shortest possible time. We believe those countries deserve it and that different decision will have a negative effect to the whole region, “ Brnabic said during the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit in Sarajevo.

Speaking about economic cooperation in the region, Brnabic listed many positive examples, primarily infrastructural projects. However, she criticized 100 percent tariffs Pristina imposed on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, saying the tariffs led to the reduction of total trade in the region and “brought in additional mistrust into already fragile regional relations.”

PM Brnabic also supported the idea of forming a commission for borders’ issues, saying that “the issue of borders must be closed, not only for the sake of the European integration but also to enable us to release all economic potentials for our peoples.”