Representatives from both the ruling coalition and opposition parties in Serbia have voiced vastly different assessments of a new proposal put forward by Germany and France for the phased accession of candidate countries to the European Union.
Presented ahead of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Summit in Tivat, the unofficial document (non-paper) proposes that Western Balkan candidate countries, along with Moldova, should be more deeply integrated into the work of EU institutions even before achieving full membership.
While the document offers early institutional participation, it notably proposes restricting core rights, such as full voting capabilities, during transitional phases.
Political Reactions: A “Waiting Room” vs. Strategic Influence
Speaking to Serbia’s public broadcaster (RTS), political figures split over whether this model serves as an acceleration tool or a diplomatic holding pattern.
The Opposition’s View: Institutional Stagnation
- Danijela Nestorović (Ecological Uprising): Nestorović characterized the proposal as an official holding zone rather than an upgrade. “To me, this looks like a name for a waiting room. It does not look like a faster track to accession,” she noted, pointing out that Serbia has faced the same demands from Brussels for over a decade without visible progress.
- Duško Lopandić (Serbia Centre – SRCE): Lopandić reminded the public that while the proposal is currently just a discussion framework that has not entered formal European Commission procedures, it must be taken seriously because it comes from the EU’s two heaviest hitters. He viewed it as a temporary fix: “This is a solution in anticipation of the moment when these countries can return to the normal path of enlargement.”
The Ruling Coalition’s View: Geopolitical Maneuvering
- Snežana Paunović (Socialist Party of Serbia – SPS): Paunović took a more measured view, interpreting the non-paper as a long-awaited sign of goodwill from Brussels aimed at smoothing over the EU’s increasingly visible double standards. “I don’t consider it crucial for Serbia’s European path at this moment, but I think it’s not a bad signal,” she stated.
- Milenko Jovanov (Serbian Progressive Party – SNS): Jovanov argued that the initiative stems from internal frictions within the EU, where enthusiasm for expansion has dried up. He claimed the plan is a geopolitical placeholder: “This is an attempt for the EU to metaphorically plant its flag and say, ‘You belong here too,’ to prevent anyone else—whether from the East or the further West—from running into that empty space.”
The Core Obstacles: Russia Sanctions and Kosovo
The debate quickly shifted to the geopolitical pressure mounting on Belgrade, particularly concerning its refusal to align with Western sanctions against Moscow following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
“Serbia has stalled because it has not introduced sanctions against Russia and because it does not recognize the independence of Kosovo. Period. If that had been done, there would be no other problems,” Milenko Jovanov stated bluntly.
Jovanov pointed to Albania and Montenegro, arguing their recent progress in Euro-Atlantic integration was driven purely by political compliance rather than superior economic or electoral reforms. He also called out Western double standards regarding international partnerships:
- The Foreign Policy Clash: Opposition figures Lopandić and Nestorović both argued that if EU membership remains Serbia’s primary strategic goal, Belgrade must fully align its foreign policy with Brussels, including adopting sanctions against Russia.
- The Counter-Argument: Paunović and Jovanov countered that total alignment would force Serbia to act directly against its own national and territorial interests, including accepting the secession of its territory. Jovanov added that European leaders show hypocrisy when they demand Serbia cut ties with global powers: “If they tell us something is forbidden, while they simultaneously lead massive delegations to China, then Serbian citizens have every right to hold back.”
