“We are and I want us to be the most determined advocate of Serbia during its EU integration, because I think that not only Serbia needs the EU, but the EU needs Serbia too", Ponta said in a joint press conference with his Serbian counterpart, Mediafax reports.
He pointed out that it is in Romania’s interest that Serbia should become an EU member as soon as possible, and a member of Europe in order to have an integrated continent, while cautioning that the course of European integration entails carrying out painful reforms and accepting some sacrifices.
"I think that in this difficult process that Romania has gone through for nearly eight years before entering the European Union in 2007, the Serbian government, the Serbian people will make a lot of sacrifices, there will be painful reforms, there will be difficult decisions, but I am here, in Belgrade, to ensure that in the end, all these sacrifices will be worth it ", Ponta said.
He said he hopes Serbia will not commit the mistakes Romanian authorities made in the European integration process and pointed out the importance for the two countries to have a common stance within the EU.
PM Victor Ponta is in Belgrade on an official visit.