Balkans | The European Parliament wants “Russia’s condition” for Serbia’s accession talks to the European Union

MEPs adopted the report stating that progress in Serbia’s accession negotiations with the EU is conditional on “compliance with sanctions against Russia”.

The report, accepted by the European Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee, called for a review of EU financial aid to Serbia if non-democratic regimes continued to be supported.

The report urged no progress in Serbia’s accession negotiations unless Serbia accedes to EU sanctions against Russia and no serious progress is made in EU reforms.

MEPs also demanded that the dynamics of the accession process be determined by the rule of law and fundamental rights, the functioning of democratic institutions and the normalization of relations with Kosovo. It was recalled that the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is a prerequisite for the accession of both sides to the European Union.

In the scope of foreign relations, it was stressed that Serbia should follow a line in line with the common foreign and security policy of the European Union, especially with regard to the Russian attack on Ukraine.

The report stressed that it was concerned that Serbia had not made progress in any of the 33 chapters of negotiations since the EU Commission’s 2020 report.

The MPs stated that support for Serbia’s European Union membership has declined, as a result of anti-EU and anti-Russian rhetoric, which is being spread through government-controlled media and other officials.

The report praised the measures taken regarding the independence of the judiciary and cooperation with the European Union in managing irregular migration, and stated that there is a need for more efforts and political will in combating corruption.

The report, which was accepted by the European Parliament’s Foreign Relations Committee by 43 votes to 5, will be put to a vote in Parliament’s General Assembly in May.

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