Serbia’s EU membership aspirations faced a setback as it remains excluded from membership projections until 2029. This skepticism arises from stalled reforms, political unrest, and Serbia’s alignment with Russia. Although Serbia shows technical readiness for Cluster 3 negotiations, EU officials doubt its commitment. Concerns include slow progress on media freedom, electoral reform, and alignment with EU values. President Vučić’s planned Victory Day visit to Moscow has raised EU eyebrows, and Russia’s FSB involvement in Serbia’s affairs has strained relations. Critics like Sweden’s Jessica Roséncrantz argue these actions contradict Europe’s values, undermining Serbia’s EU candidacy credibility. EU Commissioner Marta Kos expressed disappointment in Serbia’s lack of progress, stating, “words are no longer enough.” The European Commission has delayed a €111 million payment from its Growth Plan for Serbia, heightening concerns about its trajectory. Meanwhile, Albania advances in its accession process, opening more clusters and chapters in six months than Serbia has in years. Consequently, the EU now views Albania and Montenegro as frontrunners for membership by 2029, leaving Serbia behind in EU integration efforts. Read more here.
Source: RTS
