European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has stated that the European Commission’s priority is for Serbia to remain on its European path. However, she emphasized that it is up to the Serbian authorities to demonstrate, through reforms, that they genuinely deserve to join the European Union.
Explaining the Absence of EU Flags at Serbian Protests
During an appearance on Slovenian public television Sunday evening, Kos also addressed the reasons why EU flags are not seen at student protests in Serbia.
“The priority of the European Commission is for Serbia to remain on its European path, but it is not enough for us to say that. Serbia, of course, must carry out numerous reforms to prove that it truly deserves membership in the European Union,” Kos said.
She continued, “It is interesting that when I asked various representatives why there are no European flags, I received approximately four answers. The first is because you support Vučić. The second is because you bombed us – that was NATO, not the EU, by the way. The third is because you are asking us to recognize Kosovo, which the EU, of course, does not demand from Serbia. And the fourth is because we don’t want to upset Russia. So, it’s a complicated situation.” Kos added that she is in constant contact with representatives of civil society in Serbia.
Future Budget for Enlargement
The Commissioner for Enlargement also discussed the future budget for her portfolio.
“For my portfolio, three messages regarding the budget are important. First, we have enough money in this seven-year budgetary period for the countries that are currently candidates. Second, that money will depend on the extent to which they implement reforms. And the third important message is that we have secured 100 billion euros for Ukraine’s needs, for the accession process, and for the reconstruction of that country,” Kos concluded.
