European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilcik told the EuroPride parade gathering that he is happy to be here to celebrate freedom.

“Happy EuroPride…. I stand here as a European politician and as someone who supports diversity,” he said adding that the best news is that “we are here in great numbers despite the weather”.

Speaking in Serbian, Bilcik said that LGBT rights are human rights and respecting those rights is in the spirit of Europe. “Belgrade and Serbia have shown us acceptance and respect… The fight for Serbia’s European future must continue with greater determination,” he said.