7 hours agoKos: Serbia's road to EU will be difficult if Vuciq visits Moscow
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)European Union Enlargement Commissioner (BE) Marta Kos has warned on Wednesday that Serbia will find it difficult to remain on track towards EU membership, if its president, Aleksandar Vuciq, visits Moscow next week. Kos said, however, it is Vociqi's duty to decide whether he wants to go or not [...]
Kos said, however, it is Vociqi's duty to decide whether he wants to go to Russia or not.
Vuciq has said he will participate in the Victory Day parade on 9 May and that he will meet with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for the first time since the start of Ukraine's full invasion of the Kremlin.
May 9th 1945 and May 2025 are two dates of different values. Going to Moscow and celebrating with Putin, or his army, which is killing people in Ukraine, is in complete opposition to European values and in great opposition to the decision of the EU Council, which decided in 2022 that member states should not take any step that can give Putin and Russia” legitimacy, Kos said, answering a question from Radio Free Europe at a press conference in Belgrade.
She reiterated that Serbia, as a candidate for EU membership, should have its policies fully in line with Brussels' foreign and security policy by the time of accession.
However, relations with Moscow today cannot be as if nothing is happening.
However, this is his decision [Vuccikiq]”, Kos concluded.
Serbia has refused to join Brussels in imposing sanctions against Russia after it began its full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Kos is staying in Belgrade on a two-day visit, the first since taking office.
Kos recalled there are some conditions Serbia must meet in continuing negotiations with the EU in order to open chapter three.
Everything has been declared on the counter. It has to do with three laws, the media law, election law and the REM. And of course, we talked about it yesterday with Serbia's Government and Parliament Speaker. They promised to fulfill it, and we will monitor that this actually happens”, Kos said.
As a candidate for EU membership, Serbia has opened no negotiating chapters since December 2021.
The process has stalled because of its refusal to bring its foreign policy closer to that of the Union and to impose sanctions on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.
Brussels also urges progress by Belgrade in rule of law and in dialogue with Kosovo./Periscopi/
