New Condition Germany Set for Serbia for EU Membership

This, according to the Serbian media, sends out Telegrafi, means that the EU expects Belgrade to harmonise its policy with Brussels and impose sanctions on Moscow. That condition, Serbian media write away, raises the question: Can EU requirements undermine friendly relations and force Serbia to give up its ally Vladimir Putin?

The EU's “compatibility with foreign and security policy is for many candidate countries complicated and complex issues, and in Serbia's case it means the need to pass sanctions against Russia”, Schieb was quoted as saying. He explained that Serbia is free to continue security co-operation with Russia, but should ensure that it does not conflict with obligations undertaken as a candidate, such as protecting confidential information and storing data. In this direction, Jadranka Joksimovic, Serbia's Minister for European Integration, has said Serbia has clear commitments from the process.

“Serbia significantly contributes to the EU's common foreign security policy and this chapter is not only about relations with the Russian Federation, but is much broader”, Joksimovic said. By contrast, Germany had put another condition on Serbia, for EU membership, saying there should be final agreements with Kosovo for that.