The EU has suspended funding for Serbia due to concerns over the rule of law
The European Union has blocked all payments to Serbia under the development plan due to setbacks in the country’s judicial system.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Koss made this announcement at a conference in Fribourg, according to RTRS. She stated that the country will not be able to receive financial support from the EU until the identified violations are rectified, as Belgrade cannot “sit on two chairs at once” on its path to EU membership.
Politico reported that the amount of frozen funds could reach 1.5 billion euros due to the rollback of democratic processes and the maintenance of close ties with Russia. Marta Koss expressed concern over the adoption of laws that undermine judicial independence, as well as the repression of protesters and pressure on independent media. Brussels emphasizes the need for strict adherence to European standards to continue financial cooperation.
The suspension of payments is a serious signal to the Serbian authorities regarding the need for real reforms in the justice and security sectors. Brussels expects the candidate country to fully align with EU foreign policy, particularly regarding sanctions pressure on Russia. The future of financial assistance will depend on progress in restoring the independence of state institutions and protecting citizens’ rights.
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić stated that Belgrade plans to complete all administrative and technical procedures for integration into the European Union by the end of this year. Despite the desire to join the bloc, Đurić emphasized that Serbia does not intend to “beg” Brussels for EU membership.
The European Commission had planned to accelerate the accession of six Western Balkan countries to the European Union. In 2018, it was expected that Serbia and Montenegro would join the Union by 2025.
The German Chancellor stated that the European Union should grant accession to the Western Balkan countries, Ukraine, Moldova, and eventually Georgia.
