The European Union has reiterated its call to Serbia – as a candidate country for membership – to align its foreign policy stance with that of the EU and to avoid actions that contradict these positions.
According to EU diplomats, this request is particularly important regarding Serbia’s stance toward Russia, against which the EU continues to impose sanctions due to the war in Ukraine, while Serbia maintains friendly relations with Russia.
An EU spokesperson, referring to the recent visit of Serbia’s Foreign Minister Marko Djuric to Moscow and his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, stated that the EU has taken steps to isolate Russia, minimized contacts, and is preparing a new package of sanctions. The EU expects Serbia, as a candidate country, not to take steps against this EU policy.
“Serbia, as a candidate country, must increase its efforts to align with the EU’s foreign policy as a matter of high priority. Therefore, it should refrain from actions or statements that go against the EU’s foreign policy positions,” said the EU spokesperson.
Meanwhile, diplomats from several member states have stated that, alongside the lack of progress in the normalization of relations with Kosovo, issues related to the rule of law, and Serbia’s close cooperation with Russia, the country’s actions are affecting the opening of negotiation chapters in the EU accession process, even though Serbia has technically fulfilled the conditions for this according to the European Commission.
