Serbia ought to affix Western sanctions on Russia whether it is severe about future EU membership, European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen mentioned.
“It is essential [Serbia] is aligned with our international and safety coverage. Becoming a member of the EU ultimately, this implies sharing our values,” she mentioned alongside Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on Friday (28 October).
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She spoke after a tour of Western Balkan capitals, which the EU is making an attempt to drag nearer within the face of Russian aggression in Europe.
All of the EU hopefuls within the area have mirrored EU blacklists and financial sanctions on Moscow over the previous seven months, however Vučić has maintained pleasant ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Vučić restated Serbia’s help for Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Serbia additionally voted towards Russian annexation of Ukrainian territories on the UN on 13 October.
However Vučić made a prickly comment about Western help for Kosovo independence, in a touch of underlying tensions.
“Typically we ask ourselves, why hasn’t Serbia’s territorial integrity been revered?,” he mentioned on Friday.
Serbia and Kosovo are presently embroiled in a dispute on automobile quantity plates and on autonomy for Serb municipalities, in a nervous safety setting within the area.
Von der Leyen urged them to resolve their variations through dialogue. “I am deeply satisfied that is each doable and potential,” she mentioned.
Russia sanctions apart, Vučić did pledge to align Serbia with EU visa-free coverage following European complaints on immigration.
EU international locations had warned Serbia’s visa perks may very well be suspended after it was discovered letting individuals from Burundi, Cuba, India, Turkey and Tunisia come to say asylum in Europe extra simply.
Von der Leyen visited Belgrade after talking in Sarajevo earlier the identical day.
“The door of the European Union is open, please seize the chance and use this invitation, and it’s as much as you now,” she mentioned in Bosnia.
The EU Fee has advisable member states grant Sarajevo EU candidate standing in December — a landmark authorized step on its EU journey.
Political and ethnic divisions in Bosnia have held again progress by way of EU reforms, amid threats by the Bosnian Serb entity to interrupt away in addition to disputes on electoral regulation reform.
