EU reacts to continuing proximity between Serbia, Russia

According to reports from Serbia and Russia, in the conversation held on May 29th, Vuciq and Putin have been negotiating the continuation of the strategic “partnership between Russia and Serbia” and Serbia's supply of oil and Russian gas at a convenient price.

That happened despite EU calls for Serbia not to draw close to Russia, because, as the bloc's diplomatic chief, Josep Borrell, “has earlier said, keep close ties to the regime of [Russia president Vladimir] Putin is no longer in line with building the future in the EU.

Under the circumstances of Russia's aggression towards Ukraine and international rule, the EU expects Serbia as a candidate country not to strengthen its ties with Russia even more. The candidate countries are also expected to gradually adapt their policies to third countries with positions and policies adopted by the European Union, including restrictive measures”, said Peter Stano, the EU's spokesperson for security and foreign policy issues.

He added that the EU expects all candidate states to set up legal and political priorities, including those from the communiqué The EU, which appoints EU ambitions to end the import of Russian oil and its” products.

The European bloc also recalled that it has helped Serbia reduce its dependence on Russian energy.

As an important message to Serbia and other Western Balkan states, the EU also cites the possibility of participating in joint gas procurement.

The EU also recalled the assistance it provides through the Balkan investment plan, strengthening energy supply through investments in renewable energy, construction and rehabilitation of the Trans-Balkan electric corridor.

The goal is to reduce oil dependence, help partners with a better integrated power network and access to multiple energy sources. The launch of work in the Serbia-Bulgarian gas interconference, for which the EU has allocated 50m euros, is an important step of the European bloc and Serbia to ensure the diversification of Serbia's gas supplies. In close contact with the Energy Community Secretariat, we also monitor the price situation and supply security throughout the region”, Stano said, Rel reports.

Although in the EU currently do not talk about what the concrete consequences could be for continuing close reports between Serbia and Russia, diplomatic sources said this approach could be reflected in the process of negotiations on membership in the bloc.

The “The options for Serbia to open new chapters in the negotiations process now appear very unrealistic”, said a senior EU diplomat, who added that “is not expected in formal form to declare sanctions on Serbia”.

Serbia is the only country in Europe that has not imposed sanctions on Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine. In the EU, they said they continue to expect Belgrade to support the bloc's sanctions on Russia.