**European Parliament Rapporteur on Serbia’s EU Integration**
Tonino Picula, the European Parliament rapporteur on Serbia, has said that establishing a dialogue with Belgrade is a positive step. However, he expressed skepticism about Serbia’s fast integration into the European Union.
**Dialogue and Assessment**
Picula visited Serbia for three days and met with ruling coalition MPs and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic. He said this was enough to assess the government’s position, despite not meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic or outgoing Prime Minister Milos Vucevic.
“Some did not accept the meeting,” Picula said. “They clearly decided that this kind of communication was not necessary for them, which I think is a missed opportunity.”
**Serbia’s EU Integration**
Picula expressed doubts about Serbia’s ability to integrate into the EU quickly. He said that the country has many issues to resolve, including corruption and the rule of law.
“It must be emphasised, with visible evidence, that Serbia’s economy is healthier than its politics,” Picula said. “However, economic growth is questionable without political reforms.”
**Polarized Country**
Picula described Serbia as a highly polarized country going through a serious political crisis. He said that the EU has always supported the enlargement process and extended a hand to Serbia.
“Whether that hand will be accepted by Serbia’s high-ranking officials speaks more about them,” Picula said.
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