2024-07-21 14:33:14
Serbia and the European Union have signed a memorandum of understanding concerning strategic partnership in the field of raw materials. The document was signed in the presence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Day.Az reports with reference to TASS.
“For us, this is a quantum leap into the future, we did not believe that this could happen to us,” Vucic noted. “We believe in the enormous economic progress of our country. This will certainly bring us at least 6 billion euros of new foreign direct investment, the largest investment our country has ever had.”
“Serbia has no sea, we don’t have enough oil to satisfy anyone’s needs, we don’t have gas, we have little, but we use what we have in the best possible way,” the head of state noted, adding that this is “very important on Serbia’s European path.”
The document was signed within the framework of the summit on strategic raw materials held in Belgrade, which, in addition to Vucic and Scholz, was attended by Deputy Head of the European Commission Maroš Šefčovič, members of the Serbian government and Western diplomats.
On July 18, the Serbian government supported the conclusion of a strategic partnership agreement with the EU in the field of raw materials, electric batteries and electric vehicles. Within the framework of cooperation in this area, work will be carried out “at the industrial level, in the field of research and innovation, the application of high environmental, social and administrative standards in practice, the mobilization of financial and investment instruments according to EU standards and the development of human resources necessary for the implementation of all segments of this partnership.” The Serbian Cabinet of Ministers separately emphasized that this step will “strengthen Serbia’s integration into the single market of the European Union and further strengthen its economic, social and environmental rapprochement with the EU.”