European Parliament member Riho Terras sharply criticized the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, for his visit to Belgrade, despite being asked not to make the visit.
Terras stated that the EU cannot allow such diplomatic failures, writes the online newspaper Reporteri.net.
“Despite the opposition from MEPs from 14 different member states, Costa still decided to meet with Putin’s close ally, President Vučić. The EU cannot allow these kinds of diplomatic failures!” wrote Terras.
President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, justified his visit to Serbia today by stating that dialogue is the only way to overcome the differences between the EU and Serbia, which is why he decided to visit. He explained that many people advised him not to make the visit.
“The only way to face the differences is to talk and understand each other, to understand what we need to do together. That’s why I’m here, many told me not to come, but I decided to come because if we have a problem with Serbia, if we have a problem with President Vučić, the solution is not ‘don’t come’ and ‘don’t talk,’ but for me to come, to talk, to explain different views, and to hear from him that Serbia is fully committed to the European path,” he told journalists in Belgrade.
Commenting on Vučić’s trip to Moscow to celebrate Victory Day, despite messages from Brussels not to do so, Costa said that the Serbian president explained that he had gone to celebrate a historical event, though he added that this should not be done without condemning the present-day invasion of another country.
“Currently, Serbia is fully committed to the EU accession process and understands that for this, we need full coordination in the common foreign and security policy. We cannot change history, I fully understand that Serbia celebrates its liberation, but we cannot celebrate that without condemning today’s invasion of another country,” he said.
