BELGRADE, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- 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, saying her visit strengthens relations between Serbia and the EU and conveys a message of cooperation and mutual trust.
Vucic said the two sides discussed all important topics - from strengthening the rule of law, through energy security, economic stability, and regional cooperation, to how to turn challenges into opportunities together.
At their meeting, Vucic handed von der Leyen a letter asking the EU to exempt Serbia from its new steel import tariffs, to help the candidate country maintain competitiveness.
He warned that "the coming winter will be politically difficult," although Serbia has sufficient oil and gas reserves. He also announced plans to form a joint working group with the EU to assess Serbia's energy situation. Serbia would continue developing its energy infrastructure, he added.
The EU recently unveiled a plan to reduce steel import quotas and double the out-of-quota tariff to 50 percent. The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association has warned that the move could increase supply pressures in the European market. ■
