First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic had talks today in Brussels with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Mr. Johannes Hahn.

After the meeting with Commissioner Hahn, Minister Dacic underlined that the goal of Serbia and of the Western Balkans was to join the EU, and that this goal could only be achieved by taking big steps forward, and not by making inflammatory statements that revert the region to the past.

"It is our expectation that in late June, at the next Intergovernmental Conference, several more chapters would be opened. We are hoping for a total of four. However, regardless of their number this will mean that a dynamic and continuity exists in the process of progressing on the European integration path."

Minister Dacic reiterated that regional stability was one of the foreign policy priorities, noting that Serbia would invest maximum efforts to, by playing a constructive role, give a significant encouragement to the Balkans being a zone of regional stability and peace.

"We have together noted today that Serbia was on the right track and that it was necessary to make up for what we had lost in the past, and this calls for big steps to be taken. I hope that the path to the EU will not be stopped", said the Head of Serbian diplomacy stressing that Serbia would do everything to contribute to the continuation of the dialogue with Pristina, but that it also expected that what was of utmost importance to Serbia also be carried out, which was the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

The Serbian Foreign Minister conveyed to European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn that Serbia would, after the election of the new President and the formation of the new State Government, continue to pursue its foreign policy priorities, of which EU membership was crucial.

Mr. Johannes Hahn, after the meeting with the Head of Serbian diplomacy, underlined that Serbia was on the right track and that he expected new chapters in the accession negotiations to open soon.

"I am very confident that we will see the opening of new further chapters very soon and every opportunity should be used to keep the momentum and the dynamics of this process. And I would also like to commend Serbia for having showed leadership when it comes to regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations."