EU Ties Serbia’s Membership Bid to Full Alignment on Russia Sanctions

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on October 22linking Serbia’s EU accession prospects to “full alignment” with the bloc’s foreign and security policy, explicitly including sanctions against Russia.

The resolution, adopted one year after the Novi Sad tragedy , “underlines [Parliament’s] firm commitment to Serbia’s EU membership prospects” on the condition of measurable progress on democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights, as well as “full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and sanctions against Russia.” 

During a visit to Belgrade on October 15, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged faster alignment.

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“I commend you for reaching 61% of alignment with our foreign policy, but more is needed. We must be able to count on Serbia as a reliable partner,” she said, adding that Brussels expects “greater alignment… including on sanctions against Russia.” 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić reiterated that EU membership remains Belgrade’s strategic course.

“For Serbia, membership in the European Union is a strategic choice and a priority of its foreign policy, and this will not change, at least until the next elections, and, as I believe, even after them,” he told reporters at the joint press conference. 

Belgrade has so far declined to join EU sanctions on Moscow. In July, Minister for European Affairs Nemanja Starović said the stance reflected economic calculations:

“Russia would not be affected at all, but the Serbian economy would be affected to a huge extent.” 

Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine urged full synchronization of sanctions against Russia in order to undermine Russia’s war economy.

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