Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is increasingly distancing Serbia from the European Union by boycotting major European events, analysts say.
Most recently, Vučić did not attend the European Political Community Summit held in Yerevan under the slogan “Building the Future: Unity and Stability in Europe.” The gathering brought together leaders from 48 countries, but Serbia was represented by its prime minister, Macut.
According to analysts cited by N1, Vučić’s absence is seen as a political message toward the EU. This is not the first time he has skipped key European meetings he also missed the EU–Western Balkans summit in December, previously justifying his absence as “protecting the interests of Serbian citizens.”
Experts interpret this pattern as a continued avoidance of crucial European integration forums. They argue that missing the Yerevan summit represents a lost opportunity for Serbia, especially at a time when EU rhetoric toward the country has hardened and implementation of recommendations from the Venice Commission is expected following controversial legislation.
Although Serbia was formally represented by the prime minister and ministers such as Tatjana Macura and Marko Đurić, analysts say the absence of the president was notable and reduced the country’s perceived relevance in discussions on key EU relations.
Serbia, under Vučić’s leadership, is also known to have developed closer ties with Russia and China, further complicating its European integration path.
