Van Rompuy was the first senior European official to visit Serbia after the Council of the EU unanimously decided on June 28 to open accession negotiations with the country by the end of January next year.
Congratulating the Serbian government and citizens on the historic step towards EU membership, he said this moment was the result of courageous and far-seeing decisions of politicians in Belgrade and Pristina, and that the Belgrade-Pristina agreement had set the path to lasting reconciliation and put a full stop to conflicts in the region.
Van Rompuy said the EU would continue to politically and financially assist Serbia, and that the inter-governmental conference in January would be the next step in EU integration.
He met with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic, who said the opening of EU membership negotiations would be a historic day for Serbia and the beginning of a turnaround and societal modernisation. He said it was very important for the negotiations to begin immediately, "both technically and politically", on the central level and on the level of the 35 negotiation teams.
Dacic said Serbia planned and wanted to meet the commitments "swiftly, efficiently and well" and that "Serbia should not be rewarded with EU membership, but win membership because it has deserved it for internal reforms."
He said that setting a date for an inter-governmental conference in January was a chance for Serbia to "open the European framework" even sooner. He thanked EU High Commissioner Catherine Ashton and the member countries which, with the European Council's decision, "upheld the policy of Serbia's government and President Tomislav Nikolic", which he said contributed to "the country's reputation, to peace and stability in the entire region."
"Mr Van Rompuy's visit represents big support and encouragement to us," said Dacic.
The Van Rompuy-Dacic meeting was followed by a meeting of delegations of the European Council and the Serbian government.
Today, Van Rompuy was also scheduled to meet with Nikolic and Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic. After that, he was scheduled to travel to Pristina for talks with the highest Kosovo officials. According to the media in Pristina, he will be joined by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.