Serbia remains committed to its plan to join the European Union and aims to accelerate its membership bid, President Aleksandar Vucic stated on Tuesday, following Western criticism of his recent trip to Moscow.
Vucic traveled to Russia on May 8 and 9 to attend a parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of victory in World War Two, where he also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
After meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa on Tuesday, Vucic affirmed that Belgrade seeks to expedite its European integration and open more negotiation chapters with the EU.
“The atmosphere (in the EU) is not exactly great, I’m convinced because of the trip to Moscow, but I believe that Europe will have understanding for merit-based progress,” he said.
Russia is a long-standing Orthodox Christian ally of Serbia and a primary supplier of natural gas. Russian companies Gazprom and Gazpromneft also hold ownership stakes in Serbia’s NIS oil company.
Moscow also supports Belgrade’s opposition to the independence of Kosovo, its former southern province.
Vucic, who has faced months of anti-corruption protests led by students, pledged that the government would implement the necessary reforms to join the EU.
Serbia must address corruption, reform its judiciary, media, and election laws, improve relations with Kosovo, and align its foreign policies with those of the EU, including imposing sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
“A key element of our common foreign and security policy is the clear condemnation of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace,” Costa stated through an interpreter.
European Union officials have consistently urged leaders of nations seeking EU membership, including Vucic, to refrain from attending Moscow’s World War Two victory commemorations.
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Costa said he “was glad to hear” that EU membership remains Serbia’s top priority. “What needs to be done is freedom of the media, suppression of corruption, and improvement of the electoral law.”
Among the Western Balkans nations, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, and Bosnia have attained the status of EU membership candidates, while Kosovo trails behind.
