On the sidelines of the Launch Conference on the EU Strategy for the Adriatic-Ionian Region, which was held November 18 in Brussels, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic met European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

Minister Dacic congratulated Commissioner Hahn on assuming his new duties and underscored the importance of the fact that the representative of Austria, a state that strongly supported the EU enlargement, was the head of this important department.

The Serbian Foreign Minister stressed that Austria, as a neighbour of the Western Balkan region, was well acquainted with the history, culture and politics of the region and understood that this part of the Balkans was facing great challenges, and that it would all have significant implications for the whole EU, its future and development.

At a press conference held after the meeting, Commissioner Hahn emphasized that Serbia was not asked to join the sanctions against Russia, adding that the issue was not related to the opening of chapters in the enlargement process. Hahn told journalists that the decision was a sovereign matter for the Government of Serbia, but that Brussels expected our country to align its foreign policy to that of the EU before becoming its member.

The Serbian Foreign Minister expressed the confidence that Chapter 32, relating to financial control, would be opened very soon and added that almost all EU Member States supported it.