Head of EU Delegation in Serbia, Sem Fabrizi said the crucial topic for the Western Balkans states during the mandate of a new European Commission (EC) would be structural reforms, Tanjug news agency reports. He added that Western Balkans remains priority for the new EC.

“Portfolio for the Western Balkans remains the same, structure remains the same, and these are the rule of law, economic development, public administration development, fight against corruption, good neighborly relations and resolving regional disputes,” Fabrizi said.

Head of EU Delegation in Serbia, Sem Fabrizi said the EU will not change its stance on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina regardless of election of a new administration, RTS reports.

He recalled the stance of the EU is the dialogue should continue and reach a legally binding agreement.

Speaking about Serbia’s EU integration he noted the message is clear – continue with reform and there would be progress.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Sem Fabrizi said it is not accurate that the EU did not react regarding police action in the northern Kosovo on Thursday, adding everything that happened is yet another evidence the dialogue is the only way to resolve the problems, Tanjug news agency reported.

Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia Sem Fabrizi delivered today to Prime Minister Ana Brnabic the Annual Report of the European Commission on the Republic of Serbia.

At a press conference held in the Serbian government, Brnabic assessed that the Report is basically positive because it recognizes the progress in some areas, primarily in the economy, but expressed the expectation that in the future there will be no political assessment of progress towards the EU in some important areas.

The Europe Union stance is clear – Pristina must revoke its decision on the 100 percent import tariffs on goods from Serbia to enable dialogue on normalization of relations to resume, and both sides have to commit to the talks, as they have no alternative, Sem Fabrizi, the chief of the EU delegation in Serbia told TV N1.

Speaking for TV N1 morning program Fabrizi said the EU hoped that Belgrade and Pristina would return to the negotiations as soon as possible.

Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi said there is no alternative to Belgrade-Pristina dialogue on Kosovo and that status quo is not an option. He added that he remains cautiously optimistic about the achievement of an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina.

"I do not think there is a possibility to maintain this situation, the status quo is not an option, it does not help either Serbia or Pristina. There is a need for dialogue to continue and reach an agreement," Fabrizi told the students at the Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade.

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Sem Fabrizi said the stance of the European Union is clear and there is no change in the format of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Tanjug news agency reported.

Asked to comment on a statement of the European Parliament Rapporteur for Serbia David McAllister on possible Russia and US involvement in the dialogue, Fabrizi said the stance is very clear, the EU is there to support the dialogue between the two sides and is doing so based on the mandate it received from the UN General Assembly.

The head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi did not want to comment the views of "other parties", even the stance of the US on Kosovo, he just reiterated that Brussels was committed to reaching an agreement that will be legally binding, with full normalization of relations, reports Belgrade based daily Blic.

He said, when asked to comment on a recent statement by US State Undersecretary for Political Affairs David Hale "that the US position is a mutually sustainable recognition of Kosovo and Serbia ".

The US wants to see Serbia in EU and in the family of European peoples, Ambassador Kyle Scott said, adding that in this regard, his country would intensify relations with Serbia, Tanjug news agency reported.

He also said by joining the EU, Serbia would get stronger after all it underwent with its neighbors and people would be able to live better.

“You want your citizens to live same as in Europe and to become a part of the European club, but you have to respect their rules,” Ambassador Scott said at the Kopaonik Business Forum.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met today with Head of European Delegation in Serbia, Sem Fabrizi and conveyed him expectation that the EU would invest additional efforts in order to influence Pristina to revoke unilateral actions that bring peace and stability in the region into jeopardy, RTS reports.

“There is a need for lasting agreement. We are ready to continue talks with Pristina, when tariffs are revoked,” President Vucic said. He added that Belgrade is ready to find a compromise solution, and there is no alternative to the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.