Belgrade: Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Belgrade on Wednesday to discuss Serbia's path towards joining the European Union (EU). At the Palace of Serbia, Vucic welcomed von der Leyen, emphasizing that her visit strengthens relations between Serbia and the EU and conveys a message of cooperation and mutual trust.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Vucic stated that the discussions covered important topics such as the rule of law, energy security, economic stability, and regional cooperation. He highlighted the need to turn challenges into opportunities together. During the meeting, Vucic presented von der Leyen with a letter requesting the EU to exempt Serbia from its new steel import tariffs to help maintain competitiveness.

Vucic cautioned that the coming winter would be politically challenging, although Serbia has enough oil and gas reserves. He announced plans to form a joint working group with the EU to assess Serbia's energy situation and expressed Serbia's commitment to continue developing its energy infrastructure. The EU's recent plan to reduce steel import quotas and double the out-of-quota tariff to 50 percent has raised concerns. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association has warned that this move could heighten supply pressures in the European market.