In his address to MPs at a special session of the Serbian parliament, Vučević emphasised that the foreign policy of our country must be firmly based on clear and generally acceptable principles, political independence and military neutrality.
He added that, when it comes to the region, Serbia's contribution to preserving peace and stability will be active and continuous, whereby the government will maintain good relations with all its neighbours, while its policy will be a policy of peace.
Vučević said that the government he will lead will continue with dedicated work on fulfilling all the existing criteria on the way to full membership in the EU through the implementation of reform processes which, in the end, are primarily beneficial for our citizens and the economy.
However, we cannot ignore the fact that year after year, the EU accession process is increasingly burdened with new political criteria that were not set before, the Prime Minister candidate noted.
According to him, the EU should open the door for new members when they overcome the so-called fatigue from enlargement and implement internal reforms in the decision-making process.
He emphasised that we cannot and will not renounce friendship with Russia, whose people Serbia considers fraternal, and added that the same is the case with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
Vučević emphasised that the USA is a world power and that it is in Serbia's interest to build the best possible relations with it.
Where there are fundamental disagreements, as when it comes to the status of Kosovo and Metohija, we will tirelessly repeat our position and will never deviate from it. We will work as long as it takes for our American partners to hear us and understand our arguments as much as possible, he said.
The Prime Minister candidate particularly emphasised the importance of Serbia's strategic partnership with the People's Republic of China.
He warned that the new government, from the first days of its mandate, will face serious and far-reaching foreign policy challenges, adding that in this sense, the biggest challenge in the coming period will be, without a doubt, the defence of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, i.e., the fight for Kosovo and Metohija.
Vučević said that the government of Serbia will be forced to react adequately if Pristina's membership in the Council of Europe becomes certain.
Vučević also reminded that Priština was constantly taking escalating moves almost from the first day after Kurti came to power in 2021.
According to him, one of the main priorities of the government will be raising and preserving the standard of living of citizens through economic strengthening and advancement.
At the end of 2023, GDP reached €69.5 billion, and we expect it to grow to €94.2 billion by 2027.
He announced that a shorter form of mandatory military service of a maximum of four months would be proposed, explaining that during that time we could get a trained soldier and a safer and more secure country.