American expert: Beden warned Djuric that there will be costs unless Serbia approaches EU

According to Meyer, Serbian Ambassador Djuric was indirectly warned that there would be costs for Serbia if Vuciq fails to fulfil his promise to draw Serbia closer to the EU, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Thus, the core of the meeting between President Beden and Ambassador Djurovic was to make it clear that the US are unhappy with Belgrade. Ambassador Djuric was indirectly warned that there will be a cost for Serbia if Vuciq fails to fulfil his promise to draw Serbia closer to the EU, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which he made but failed to realise.

After the meeting, Djuric made a statement that “Serbia will continue, as a responsible and reliable partner in the international community, to continually follow a policy of regional stability -- avoting for the peace, prosperity and economic progress of all citizens of the Western Balkans. .”

This, of course, remains to be seen. However, one thing we need to bear in mind is that Vuciq understands that being too close to Putin at this moment is more an obligation than wish He can ease his position, even because he is still looking at EU membership.

I believe the US and the EU should now abandon their strategic “ “and use sticks and carrots to realise a real change in the behaviour of Serbia”, Beyer wrote.