German Ambassador to Serbia Wolfram Maas said that Serbia is getting closer to the European Union every day and that cooperation between Serbia and Germany can be fostered in the energy, telecommunications and infrastructure sectors.

In an interview to the Ekonom:east Magazine, Maas said he did not wish to speculate on the dates when Serbia will get the status of candidate or gain EU membership, as this depends on the speed of reforms in the country.

Maas said that when he came to Serbia, the country was making slow progress, but that reforms were accelerated in the meantime.

The distance from the EU is being reduced and Serbia is getting closer to the EU every day, he said. Serbia's political course has become much clearer and no one doubts any more that EU membership is the priority of its government, he said.

The government, parliament and state administration have made great steps to that end in the past year and a half, Maas noted.

Referring to economic cooperation between Serbia and Germany, Maas said that Germany is Serbia's leading trade partner. Cooperation can, however, always be improved, he added. An attractive market is very important for investors, as any of them who wish to come to Serbia will want not only to sell their products in this country, but also to export them, Maas said.

Germany's bilateral support to Serbia reached a record level in 2009, he said. This proves that even in a difficult economic situation, Germany continues to support Serbia and carries its support further, he said.