Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has expressed his disappointment with the lack of support from Brussels for Serbia’s EU membership bid. In an interview with the Financial Times, Vucic highlighted the accelerated path to EU membership that was offered to Ukraine, stating that it demonstrated the lack of political support that Serbia has received.
Vucic clarified that he has nothing against Ukrainians but emphasized that the level of support shown by the EU for Ukraine’s membership application has never been extended to Serbia. He pointed out that Ukraine applied for membership last February and was granted candidate status just four months later. In contrast, Serbia applied in 2009 but had to wait until 2012 to receive candidate status and until 2014 for accession talks to begin.
The slow progress of Serbia’s application has been attributed to pressure from Brussels on Vucic to take certain actions, such as sanctioning Russia and recognizing the breakaway province of Kosovo, which would boost its chances of membership. However, these issues have caused the application to stall, leaving Serbia questioning the EU’s commitment to its accession.
Vucic also highlighted the EU’s financial limitations as a potential hindrance to Serbia’s membership. He argued that Serbia is currently in a better position than Romania and Bulgaria were when they joined the EU in 2007. He suggested that the bloc may struggle to absorb new members due to the financial burden placed on the ten net contributors and the reluctance of these countries to take on more financial responsibilities.
The mention of a potential accession date of 2030 by European Council President Charles Michel further fueled doubts about Serbia’s membership prospects. With five western Balkan nations and Kosovo all vying for membership, it remains unclear which countries will be prioritized for accession.
While EU officials have publicly expressed support for Ukraine’s membership, concerns about corruption in the country may pose a roadblock to its accession. Additionally, an escalating dispute between Ukraine and its Eastern European neighbors over grain imports could further complicate Ukraine’s application.
Ultimately, Vucic’s remarks shed light on Serbia’s frustration with the lack of progress in its EU membership bid. The country feels overlooked compared to Ukraine and questions the EU’s ability to accommodate new members. As Serbia continues to seek closer ties with the bloc, it remains to be seen how these concerns will be addressed and whether progress will be made in the near future.
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