The European Union’s Ambassador to Belgrade handed Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić the long-awaited Progress Report a document prepared by the European Commission assessing Serbia’s path toward EU membership.
But this time, Brussels’ message was clear and harsh. The report described as one of the most critical ever delivered to Serbia since it gained candidate status sets out two key conditions that have shaken Vučić’s government, reports Klan Kosova.
Ambassador Andreas von Beckerath, who presented the report, openly laid out the EU’s expectations — including accountability for the act of aggression committed by Serbian paramilitary groups against Kosovo Police in Banjska, Zvečan, on September 24, 2023.
This reference, directly linking Serbia to a violent attack on Kosovo’s sovereignty, was among the main reasons Vučić reportedly reacted with anger and defiance. In his remarks, the Serbian president admitted to having “major disagreements” with much of what the report states, expressing his dissatisfaction directly to Ambassador von Beckerath.
The timing could not be worse for Belgrade. Sweden — one of Serbia’s key supporters within the EU announced this week that it has suspended millions in financial aid to Serbia. Stockholm justified the decision by pointing to the alarming rise of corruption and erosion of democratic institutions under Vučić’s regime.
The combination of Western pressure, Serbia’s failure to align with EU foreign policy, and its ongoing protection of those responsible for cross-border violence in Kosovo seems to have left Vučić more isolated than ever — politically cornered by his own actions.
Once again, Kosovo stands as the litmus test for Serbia’s credibility and Vučić’s anger cannot change that reality.
