Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said today (31/8) that his country is unlikely to join the European Union in 2028, a date that other Western Balkan countries have set as a target for membership.
“I don’t think we will be part of the EU in 2028. It’s not going to happen, I’m not lying to my people,” Vucic told a panel at the GLOBSEC security conference in Prague.
“And I believe that if some of us join the EU, that cannot happen before 2030, but that is just my assessment. What will happen in the meantime no one knows,” added the Serbian president.
His comments came two days after the signing of a landmark deal to buy 12 Rafale fighter jets from France’s Dassault Aviation, which moves Serbia away from its defense cooperation with Moscow.
Sanctions in Moscow, a condition for joining the EU
In order to join the European Union, Serbia will have to improve its democratic profile, rule of law, judicial system, economy and fight corruption and organized crime.
Belgrade is trying to balance its EU membership ambitions with its ties to Russia, on which it depends for gas and which supported Serbia in its opposition to Kosovo’s independence in 2008.
Serbia has repeatedly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supplies Kiev with ammunition, but Belgrade will in any case have to align its foreign policy with that of the EU, including imposing sanctions on Moscow, if it wants to join. on the block.
Source: RES-MPE
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