In Belgrade, European Council President Antรณnio Costa expressed concerns on Tuesday regarding the recent visit of Serbiaโs populist leader to Russia for the Victory Day celebrations. Despite this, Costa shared that he was assured Serbia remains committed to its journey towards European Union membership.
During the start of his six-nation tour through the Western Balkans, Costa revealed in Belgrade that there had been several appeals advising him against visiting Serbia. However, he felt it crucial to clarify the intentions behind President Aleksandar Vucicโs attendance at last weekโs event in Moscow, which Vucic described as a tribute to a significant historical milestone.
Costa acknowledged the importance of remembering history, specifically the liberation by Soviet troops that Serbia commemorates. Nevertheless, he emphasized the inconsistency of celebrating past victories without condemning current acts of aggression, specifically referring to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
He further asserted the importance of President Vucic publicly reaffirming Serbiaโs commitment to the European Union and its accession journey. While Vucic is often criticized for his authoritarian tendencies and balancing close ties with both Russia and China, he has officially committed to joining the EU.
Vucic defended his presence at the Russian military parade commemorating the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, viewing it as an effort to preserve longstanding alliances with Slavic nations sharing Orthodox Christian roots, such as Russia, while aspiring for EU membership.
Serbiaโs heavy reliance on Russian energy has complicated its position on Western sanctions against Russia. While refusing to adopt these sanctions, Serbia supported a U.N. resolution denouncing Russiaโs invasion of Ukraine, showing some alignment with international condemnation.
Costa stressed the necessity for Serbia to unequivocally denounce Russiaโs aggressive actions in Ukraine to fully align with EU policies, a crucial step for its accession to the bloc.
Vucic anticipated backlash over his Moscow visit and mentioned forthcoming discussions on media freedom and anti-corruption legislation, crucial elements for advancing EU accession. He declared Serbiaโs continued commitment to EU membership.
At home, Vucic faces mounting pressure following extensive anti-corruption protests, ignited by a tragic train accident resulting in 16 fatalities attributed to corruption in infrastructure projects. This domestic unrest has seen involvement from university students rallying for justice and legal reform, drawing the EUโs attention with their marathon run to Brussels.
Costa engaged with Serbiaโs opposition during his visit, who shared concerns about governmental repression and sought EU support for the protest movement. Opposition figure Marinika Tepic suggested that Costaโs dialogue with Vucic might imply EU endorsement.
Following his visit to Belgrade, Costa planned to continue to Bosnia-Herzegovina. There, the resurgence of ethnic tensions due to separatist actions has hindered progress toward EU-required reforms following the conflict-ridden 1992-1995 period.
Overall, Montenegro and Albania lead the EU membership pursuit, while Serbia, alongside Bosnia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, lags behind. The ongoing challenges posed by the Ukraine conflict have heightened the EUโs interest in expanding its membership, wary of potential instability in the Balkans following the outbreak of war on February 24, 2022.