The opening of the third group of chapters in Serbia’s EU accession negotiations will be considered only after the country makes significant progress in the areas of the rule of law—chapters 23 and 24—as well as in the normalization of relations with Kosovo.
This was stated in the updated draft conclusions on Serbia, which will be discussed by the ambassadors of EU member states on Friday.
The document reiterates that Serbia’s progress in the rule of law and the normalization of relations with Kosovo “will continue to determine the overall pace of the accession negotiations.”
The enlargement conclusions must be approved at the ambassadorial level and then formally adopted at the meeting of EU ministers for European Affairs, which will be held on December 17 in Brussels.
Negotiations between Brussels and Belgrade for Serbia’s EU membership have been frozen mainly due to Serbia’s refusal to impose sanctions on Russia.
Serbia has not opened any new chapters since December 2021.
Hungary, which holds the EU presidency until December 31, has left open the possibility of opening the third group of chapters for Serbia, a group for which the European Commission considers the country to be technically ready.
However, Hungary has faced resistance from several member states that, in addition to the issue of alignment with the EU’s foreign policy, insist on progress in the rule of law and the implementation of agreements reached within the framework of the dialogue to normalize relations with Kosovo.
For any decision on the opening or closing of chapters, or groups of chapters, in the accession process, the consent of all EU member states is required.
Among the Western Balkan countries, only Kosovo does not have candidate status for EU membership, although it has applied. /REL/
