<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares conveyed this Thursday to his Serbian counterpart, Marco Djurić, Spain's support for Serbia's bid to join the European Union and encouraged him "to carry out the necessary reforms" to achieve this goal. For his part, the Serbian minister thanked Spain for its support of Belgrade's European aspirations and its stance on Kosovo.</strong></h4> Albares received Marco Djurić in Madrid, with whom he discussed the main challenges on the bilateral and European agenda. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2026 marks the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the mutual reopening of the two countries' embassies. Spain has also confirmed its participation in Expo 2027 in Belgrade with a main pavilion. During the meeting, which took place at the Viana Palace in Madrid, the ministers signed a cooperation agreement between the Diplomatic Schools of both countries. The enlargement of the European Union and Spain's support for Serbia's aspirations in its European journey were also part of the discussions. "Spain supports Serbia's candidacy for membership in the European Union and encourages it to carry out the necessary reforms," stated Albares, who recalled that, in 2023, both countries signed an agreement to boost cooperation toward Serbia's integration into the EU. For his part, according to the Serbian Foreign Ministry, Marko Djuric affirmed that membership in the European Union is a strategic commitment and a priority for the foreign policy of the Republic of Serbia. He highlighted Spain as an important partner for Serbia in the European integration process at the political and technical levels. He expressed his gratitude for Spain's defense of Serbia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and its decision not to recognize the unilateral independence of Kosovo. “We see Spain as one of our main friends and partners in Europe, and we would like this to be reflected in all other areas of our cooperation. We are ready to explore areas for improvement,” stated the Serbian minister, who also emphasized that King Felipe VI's visit to Belgrade will mark the celebrations of the 110th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 50th anniversary of the mutual opening of embassies in Belgrade and Madrid. During his stay in Madrid, Durić was also received by the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, José Ignacio Landaluce Kaljeha, with whom he discussed strengthening bilateral relations through parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. He also visited the Elcano Royal Institute, where he discussed current geopolitical issues, the positions of Serbia and Spain on the international stage, and upcoming significant anniversaries in bilateral relations with its director, Charles Powell, and its experts.
