You can count on the support from Berlin. We see that currently there is a great level of readiness and compromise in Serbia and we will highlight this in a debate within the European Union, said Merkel who arrived in Belgrade for an official visit late on Wednesday afternoon.
After talking to her host, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Merkel told a joint news conference that in previous years Serbia had not been ready to make a compromise, but that now it was only a matter of time where the chapters would be opened.
The situation has not always been like this, but the situation has changed and we will give a positive assessment. This will influence the beginning of Serbia's EU membership talks, Merkel told reporters thanking the Serbian prime minister for launching a large number of initiatives and encouraging stability in the region.
Merkel recalled that in 2003, the European Union opened membership prospects to all Western Balkan countries, adding that this was beneficial to both sides.
Peace in Western Balkan countries is also in our interest and joint membership of the EU can enable that peace, the German chancellor said. She also praised progress made in relations between Serbia and Albania.
Merkel also praised the Serbian government's economic agenda, saying that there was a difference between Serbia and Greece.
She however told the authorities in Belgrade that Serbia still had a long way to go.
Merkel said Belgrade was faced with migration challenges as the current regime was not functioning and Serbia had become a transit country for migrants arriving through Greece. She underscored that Serbia and Hungary needed support to deal with problems of the transit of migrants from Syria, Iraq and other countries.
Serbian PM Vucic thanked Merkel for her contribution to the policy of peace and good relations in the Balkans, underscoring that Merkel was the key player in the stabilisation of circumstances in the region.
He recalled that Serbia-Germany relations, both political and economic, were improving by the day, adding that the two countries' trade amounted to EUR 3.118 billion.
Vucic told Merkel Serbia was determined to continue on the European Union integration path, adding however that Belgrade expected great support on that path.
Merkel will continue her visit to Belgrade on Thursday when she is scheduled to hold talks with Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic.
Nikolic announced in a statement earlier on Wednesday that he would request opening of negotiations on Serbia's membership of the European Union.
After Belgrade, Merkel travels to Sarajevo on Thursday.
Merkel is visiting the Western Balkans region to step up the process of normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo and to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its path towards EU membership. She has said that close relations between the Balkan countries and the EU are important for peace and stability in the region, adding that this is also Germany's interest.