The European Commission has prepared a draft strategy for a new phase of European Union enlargement, with Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and Montenegro identified as countries that could receive roadmaps toward accelerated accession. Serbia is not currently included in that group.
The draft could mark a new stage in relations between Brussels and candidate countries, although the document is not yet final and must still be discussed by EU member states.
Speaking to Euronews Serbia, Elvira Kovač, former deputy speaker of the Serbian Parliament, said the proposed strategy should not be interpreted as the end of Serbia’s European integration process.
“We have been waiting for a revision of the enlargement strategy for a long time,” Kovač said, noting that several deadlines had previously been announced. She stressed that the current document is only a draft and that member states are expected to hold substantive discussions in mid-October.
Kovač noted that Serbia and Montenegro had been considered among the leading countries in the enlargement process several years ago.
“Eight years ago, we had a similar situation, when Serbia and Montenegro were among the leaders of the process. Unfortunately, we are not now. But for us, so-called gradual integration is explicitly being proposed,” she said.
Kovač: Gradual Access to EU Single Market Is Important for Serbia
According to Kovač, one of the most significant elements for Serbia would be gradual access to the EU single market, allowing citizens to experience some of the practical benefits of integration before full membership.
“For us, access to the single market is the most important. Unfortunately, we still do not see a final date for access,” she said. “But regardless of that, we should not lose momentum. The essence of this proposal is for our citizens to see the benefits before membership itself.”
Brussels has meanwhile sent positive signals regarding several countries in the region, with Montenegro increasingly being mentioned as a country that could make particularly rapid progress. At the same time, stability, dialogue and the implementation of reforms remain central conditions for advancement.
Kovač said a clearer picture of Serbia’s position should emerge after the European Commission publishes its annual reports on the candidate countries.
A major discussion on the new enlargement strategy is expected in mid-October, while the annual country reports are also expected to indicate which areas of Serbia’s accession process could fall under the proposed gradual-integration framework.
“We hope that these reports will be objective and contain positive messages for us, because a great deal depends on that,” Kovač said.
Serbia Continues EU Work Despite Political Transition
The debate over the new enlargement strategy comes as Serbia faces a period of political transition. The government is operating in a caretaker capacity, Parliament has been dissolved and the country is entering an election period.
Kovač said, however, that work on European integration has not completely stopped.
She said an operational team continues to meet weekly, both online and in person, and is working on reform proposals and responding to comments from the European Commission.
The dissolution of Parliament means that legislation cannot currently be adopted, but preparations for reforms and the implementation of commitments under Serbia’s reform agenda are expected to continue.
Kovač singled out agriculture as one area where Serbia still has a relatively low level of alignment with EU legislation.
“We are trying to fulfill our obligations under the reform agenda despite this period of the election campaign and elections,” she said.
EU Also Considering Changes to Decision-Making
Another potential change that could affect the future functioning of the EU is the possible use of so-called “passerelle clauses.” These mechanisms can, under certain conditions, allow decisions in specific policy areas to be taken by qualified majority rather than unanimously.
Such changes could make EU decision-making more efficient and potentially facilitate future enlargement, particularly if the bloc expands to more than 30 members.
For Serbia, however, the immediate focus remains on the forthcoming EU discussions, the European Commission’s country report and the areas that could determine how gradual integration is applied to its accession process.
