SERBIA: Serbs welcome Croatia's EU accession, looking forward to joining the union as well

Record ID: 862027

  • Title: SERBIA: Serbs welcome Croatia's EU accession, looking forward to joining the union as well
  • Date: 1st July 2013
  • Summary: PEOPLE ON STREET MAN READING NEWSPAPER MAN AND WOMAN TAKING NEWSPAPERS FROM NEWSPAPER STAND MAN WALKING AND READING NEWSPAPERS (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) BELGRADE RESIDENT MIHAJLO ZIVANOVIC SAYING: "It is good (referring to Croatia's EU accession), it is good that we are surrounded by the EU. There are some countries which are not in Europe and we are one of them, but we have a border with Europe in Srem. I hope we will be there one day." (SOUNDBITE) (Serbia) BELGRADE RESIDENT DUSAN MILJKOVIC SAYING: "I think that we let them (Croatian companies) do too much here, there are many different companies, but they treat us differently to others. I know Croatia very well, they (Croatians) are not fair to us." (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) BELGRADE RESIDENT DRAGAN JAKOVILJEVIC SAYING: "I think it is good that we are surrounded by the countries which have certain standards and we should implement them as well." PEOPLE ON STREET TWO SERBIAN FLAGS ON BUILDING VIEW OF SQUARE
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Serbia
  • City:
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: International Relations,European Union,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA8PVHEGQKTM2AX7QRMRVMAWYJK
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Residents of Serbia welcome the accession of their neighbour Croatia into the European Union, hope their country will also become the EU member.

    Serbia closely followed the long process of the accession into the EU of its neighbour Croatia.
    On Monday, July 1, Serbian major newspapers had front pages devoted to the event with headlines reading "Croatia is now a full member of the EU" and "Croatian dreams fulfilled".
    Most of Belgrade residents who spoke to Reuters welcomed the news and expressed hope that Serbia one day will follow in Croatia's footsteps and joins the EU.
    "It is good (referring to Croatia's EU accession), it is good that we are surrounded by the EU. There are some countries which are not in Europe and we are one of them, but we have a border with Europe in Srem. I hope we will be there one day," said Mihajlo Zivanovic.
    Dusan Miljkovic from Belgrade, thinks that Croatia does not treat its neighbour Serbia fairly and does not welcome Serbian companies at Croatian market: "I think that we let them (Croatian companies) do too much here, there are many different companies, but they treat us differently to others. I know Croatia very well, they (Croatians) are not fair to us."
    Dragan Jakovljevic hopes that EU standards will be implemented in Serbia as it is moving closer to the membership: "I think it is good that we are surrounded by the countries which have certain standards and we should implement them as well."
    On Monday (July 1) EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy visits Belgrade to meet Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and President Tomislav Nikolic.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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