Serbia ditches EU-Western Balkans Summit

Serbia has made little progress in its bid to affix the EU, regardless of being granted candidate standing in 2012. No main accession milestones have been reached since 2021.

Vučić’s determination follows a dinner assembly in Brussels on Dec. 10 with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, the place Vučić mentioned he proposed that every one six Western Balkan international locations be part of the EU concurrently moderately than by means of the usual step-by-step accession course of.

Serbia has lengthy maintained shut ties with Russia, rooted in historic, cultural and non secular connections in addition to shut financial cooperation; Serbia depends on Moscow for fuel provides. Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Serbia has confronted rising stress to distance itself from Moscow however has resisted imposing sanctions, as an alternative in search of to stability its ties with Russia and the European Union.

Serbian Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović issued an announcement backing Vučić’s determination, accusing the EU of a “short-sighted lack of willingness” to acknowledge Serbia’s reforms and make progress within the accession course of — a stance he mentioned sends a adverse message to Serbian residents. “This message solely fuels anti-European narratives and discourages those that are driving reform processes inside society,” Starović mentioned.

Starović went on to say that Serbia’s absence defends ” the dignity of our individuals, but additionally the integrity of the accession course of, in addition to the credibility of the European thought in Serbia.”

Opposition politicians in Serbia criticized the choice, calling it “an try at emotional blackmail, as a result of Vučić is dissatisfied that Albania and Montenegro have made progress and are prone to change into the subsequent EU member states,” mentioned Aleksandar Radovanović, member of the Free Residents Motion.

Pavle Grbović, a member of Serbia’s parliament additionally from Free Residents Motion, mentioned it was “a symptom of profound political cowardice and an try and evade uncomfortable questions and messages.”

POLITICO contacted the European Council for remark however didn’t obtain a reply.