Vucic asks von der Leyen for Serbia to be exempted from steel tariffs and quotas

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today that he had submitted a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen requesting that Serbia be exempted from tariffs and new quotas for steel, although only Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein could do so.

– I also asked and believe that the European Commission will find a way to ease the status of candidate countries at least a little and make things easier on this issue – Vucic said after a meeting with von der Leyen in Belgrade.

Speaking about US sanctions on Naftna industrija Srbije (NIS), he said that when the company was under US sanctions, it was de facto also under European sanctions.

– This problem is not easily solvable for us. I hope that we will have the support and assistance of the EU in all issues of importance for Serbia’s energy security and stability – Vucic said.

He added that Serbia would continue to develop energy infrastructure with Europe and that interconnectors would be built towards North Macedonia and Romania.

– Let’s see how and in what way we can strengthen Serbia in terms of the possibility of diversifying energy sources – he said.

He added that they had discussed preserving peace and stability in the region, as well as the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, adding that he believed that it could continue in a constructive manner.

– I will not use the opportunity to criticize anyone else, except to say that it takes two to tango – said Vucic.

Predsedništvo Republike Srbije

NIS a.d. Novi Sad

president of Serbia

European Commission

Naftna industrija Srbije

NIS

Ursula von der Leyen

Aleksandar Vučić

steel quotas