A Crossroads for Serbia: EU or Moscow?
In a sharp diplomatic message, the European Commission has urged Serbia to make a clear and definitive choice between closer integration with the European Union and its continued alignment with Russia.
At a press conference today, European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert stated that maintaining strong relations with Moscow is “incompatible” with Serbia’s aspiration to join the EU.
“Relations with Russia cannot be business as usual under Putin’s regime and in the shadow of the unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine,” Lammert emphasized.
This firm stance from Brussels comes ahead of a planned high-level meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 9, coinciding with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.
Serbia has refused to join EU sanctions against Russia and continues to pursue a neutral policy regarding the war in Ukraine. This position has become a major obstacle in its EU accession negotiations, especially as other candidate countries align more closely with Brussels.
Lammert reiterated that alignment with the EU’s foreign policy is not optional:
“We have been very clear with Serbia: accession is not only about economic or technical reforms, but also about political values and solidarity.”
The warning signals growing impatience in Brussels over Belgrade’s geopolitical balancing act, as the EU’s enlargement fatigue turns into strategic assertiveness in the face of global tensions.
