US’ Palmer: Euro-skepticism in Serbia understandable, road to EU tough

Metju Palmer
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Matthew Palmer, Special Representative for the Western Balkans and Deputy Assistant Secretary - US Department of State - Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, said on Friday the Euro-skepticism in Serbia was understandable since the reforms on the road to the European Union membership was often difficult, but always proved to be worth efforts at the end.

That road sometimes appeared endless, but when a country achieved that aim, the people realised that the benefits far outweighed the difficulties, Palmer said, adding he hoped that would be the case with Serbia as well.

“When people see the benefits of the EU membership, the support of the European road will increase,” Palmer told the conference “Future Serbia-EU relations and US Policy Toward Western Balkans,” organised by the Serb-American Friendship Congress and East-West Bridge.

Palmer said the Belgrade – Washington bilateral relations were strong, and the two sides shared a joint vision of Serbia’s EU future membership.