Serbian President Boris Tadic congratulated all Serbian citizens late on Thursday on the fact that the country has won the EU candidate status, and underscored that the status should open the door to economic progress and prosperity in Serbia.

Serbian citizens bore the greatest burden of comprehensive reforms the country carried out so as to become a democratic society regulated by laws which respects human and minority rights and affirms European values, the president stated.

Tadic pointed out that one of the benefits which the EU candidate status would bring to Serbia lies primarily in economic security because the country now has a guarantee that it is a safe destination for foreign investments, which makes room for the arrival of new investors, an increase in the number of jobs and better employment prospects for all citizens.

“This is not merely a matter of a political process and integration,” Tadic said and pointed out that the candidate status serves as a guarantee of safety for foreign companies and increases the likelihood of new jobs being opened, and it also represents an opportunity for Serbian businessmen, small and mid-size companies, as well as the local agriculture sector
which is the country's forte on the EU market.

Tadic believes that a lot of work still needs to be done so that the talks on EU membership could also be initiated, which represents the country's final step on the EU path after winning the candidate status.

“I believe that the 'Both EU and Kosovo' policy has passed the international test despite all challenges and obstacles, and I am certain that there is no better alternative,” Tadic said as reported by his press service, and added that the government needs to take care of the citizens and their living standards, and also protect the country's interests while at the same time contributing to the policy of reconciliation and making progress on the EU path in order to ensure a better future for the coming generations.