EU: Normalisation with Kosovo, among conditions for Serbia's advancement

So said in the updated version of the draft resolutions for Serbia, which will be discussed Friday by ambassadors of European Union member states.

The document reiterates that Serbia's progress in the area of rule of law and in normalising relations with Kosovo “will continue to determine the overall pace of membership negotiations”.

Concludings for enlargement must be approved at the ambassadorial level and then formally approved at the European Affairs ministers' meeting, to be held on 17 December in Brussels.

Negotiations between Brussels and Belgrade for Serbia's membership in the bloc are frozen mainly because of the failure to impose sanctions on Russia on the Serbian side.

Serbia has not opened a chapter since December 2021.

Hungary, which heads the European Union until 31 December, has left open the possibility of opening Serbia's third chapter group, which the European Commission considers the country is technically ready.

However, Hungary has faced resistance from a certain number of member states that, in addition to the problem of harmonising with EU foreign policy, insist on progress in rule of law and implementation of agreements reached within the dialogue on normalising relations with Kosovo, the REL reports.

For any decision on the possibility of opening or closing chapters in the membership process, the consent of all EU member states is necessary.

Of the Western Balkan countries, only Kosovo does not have candidate status for membership in the European bloc, though it has applied.