The European path is worth „every effort”, and Romania can offer Serbia „full support” and expertise in its EU accession steps, Foreign Affairs Minister Luminita Odobescu said Wednesday in a joint press statement with her counterpart in Belgrade, Marko Djuric, on a visit to Bucharest.

„We can say in all sincerity and looking at Romania’s progress in recent years that the European path is worth every effort,” the head of diplomacy said.

Odobescu reiterated that the Western Balkans is a region of „strategic importance” for Romania.

As far as bilateral economic relations are concerned, the Romanian minister pointed out that „there is still an important untapped potential”.

„We have reconfirmed our common will to contribute to boosting and diversifying bilateral economic cooperation in a way that will be felt by our societies,” Luminita Odobescu mentioned.

According to her, interconnection is the key word in the Romania – Serbia relationship.

„A positive example in the field of energy infrastructure is the signing of the memorandum on the implementation of the natural gas project,” she said. The Timisoara – Belgrade motorway will have a „relevant” economic impact, Odobescu added.

„Serbia has received and is receiving an extra impetus when it comes to European integration from Romania, for which I thank you very much,” said Marko Duric, according to the official translation.

He also stressed the importance of the motorway project that will link the two neighboring countries.

„For us, the construction of the motorway through Varset to Timisoara is very important and this motorway will facilitate the better integration of our societies,” the Serbian minister said.

He declared that accession to the European Union is „a basic priority” for his country.

The two ministers signed a memorandum of understanding between the Romanian and Serbian diplomatic institutes.

AGERPRES