BRUSSELS: The European Union warned Serbia on Thursday that the Balkan country’s strong relationship with Russia is “not compatible” with its ambition to join the EU, after a top government official met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin described his country as an “ally of Russia” on Wednesday, as he met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of an economic forum in Vladivostok on Wednesday.
EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano criticized Serbia’s deepening ties with Moscow. He said that such a relationship undermines EU values and the accession process. “Maintaining or even increasing ties with Russia during its illegal aggression against the Ukrainian people is not compatible with EU values and is not compatible with the EU accession process,” Stano said at a press conference in Brussels.
Serbia, which was granted EU candidate status in 2012, has been in the process of negotiating membership but faces several hurdles. One of the core requirements for accession is aligning foreign policy with EU standards.
Vulin’s recent comments in Vladivostok highlighted Serbia’s unwavering support for Russia. “Serbia will never become a NATO member, will never impose sanctions on the Russian Federation, and will never allow any anti-Russian actions to be carried out from its territory,” Vulin stated, according to Russian television reports.
The EU’s concerns are compounded by Serbia’s historical ties with Russia and its heavy dependence on Russian gas. While Serbia condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations, it has refrained from imposing sanctions on Moscow.
Stano stressed that Serbia’s actions and statements regarding Russia are at odds with the expectations for EU candidates. “We expect Serbia to refrain from intensifying links and contacts with Russia,” he said.
