EU's Von der Leyen urges Serbia to 'get concrete' on EU membership path

LONDON

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday called on Serbia to make tangible progress towards joining the European Union, urging reforms and greater alignment with EU foreign policy during a visit to Belgrade.

“Now is the moment for Serbia to get concrete about joining our Union,” von der Leyen said at a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. “Therefore, we need to see progress on the rule of law, the electoral framework, and media freedom.”

Von der Leyen said the EU’s offer of membership remains “an opportunity” and “the promise of peace, prosperity, and solidarity,” nearly two decades after Serbia began its path towards accession.

She also praised recent efforts in Serbia to strengthen democratic institutions.

“These reforms are not easy. They require patience and endurance. They must include all parts of society and the political spectrum. But they are worth the effort,” she said, adding that she has invited President Vucic to Brussels “to take stock together in a month from now.”

EU urges Serbia to impose sanctions against Russia

Von der Leyen also urged Serbia to further align itself with EU foreign policy, particularly on sanctions against Russia. “I commend you for reaching 61% of alignment with our foreign policy. But more is needed. We want to count on Serbia as a reliable partner,” she said.

The commission president highlighted ongoing EU investments and energy cooperation with Serbia, citing projects such as “the Trans-Balkan Power Corridor” and “the Serbia–Bulgaria gas interconnector.”

Von der Leyen pointed to the EU’s solidarity during the 2022 energy crisis as evidence of partnership.

“The EU extended the same measures of solidarity to our Western Balkan partners as to our own Member States. This is what it means to be a reliable partner,” she said.

Serbia has not opened any new chapters in its EU accession talks

For his part, Serbian President Vucic said Serbia has not opened any new chapters in its EU accession talks “since the moment of the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine” but noted that “at least in the recent past, we did some things,” including progress on “the regulatory agency, voters lists, and some other things regarding key energy issues,” which he expects will receive “positive valuation from the European Commission.”

He acknowledged, however, that “we have to do many things” and pointed to ongoing challenges in the energy sector.

“We are facing not an easy situation now in the field of energy. The oil industry of Serbia is under American sanctions, and being under American sanctions, de facto, it is under the European sanctions as well,” he said.

He expressed hope that Serbia would receive "the support and assistance from the European Union" on energy security; however, he also noted that the EU "cannot make an exemption when it comes to Serbia," despite his request for relief from new customs and steel quotas.

“I handed over a letter to Madam von der Leyen with a plea for Serbia to be exempted,” he said, adding that he believes “the European Commission will find a way to at least mitigate a bit of status for the candidate countries.”