The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, stated that Belgrade is not ready to recognize the independence of Kosovo.
Speaking at the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague, Vučić emphasized that a country’s membership in the European Union (EU) is a “political decision” rather than one based purely on merit.
“People in Europe constantly talk about a merit-based approach, using such terminology. But that has never truly been the case,” said Vučić, stressing that for Serbia, the main obstacle to EU accession remains its unwillingness to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
“It’s about Kosovo. As you know, we adhere to the UN Charter and Resolution 1244, which states that Kosovo is part of Serbia. Twenty-two out of the 27 EU member states have recognized Kosovo’s independence, while five have not – and that’s the problem. Belgrade is not ready to recognize Kosovo’s independence,” Vučić told RFE/RL.
During the forum in Prague, Vučić also met with the EU envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Peter Sorensen, with whom he said he had a “substantive and constructive discussion” about continuing the talks under EU mediation, addressing regional challenges, and maintaining peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
“I reiterated Serbia’s full commitment to finding compromise solutions through dialogue, with full respect for international partners and a clear assessment of the interests of our people. I emphasized that for the continuation of the dialogue, it is essential to return to the neglected foundations — such as the formation of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities,” Vučić added.
This year’s GLOBSEC Forum is being held at a time when European countries are intensifying their review of their global role in a rapidly changing international environment.
The Western Balkans is part of the agenda, but notably, Kosovo is not represented at this event.
