President Vucic says EU membership talks remain blocked as European parliament alleges ‘democratic backsliding.’

On Friday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic attributed the stagnation of his country’s European Union integration process to its refusal to impose sanctions on Russia.

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“The key condition has always been, as you should know, sanctions against Russia… That is the only condition. Against Russia and Belarus,” he said, adding that the chances of the EU opening Chapter 3 of the accession negotiations this month are slim.

His remarks come after the European Parliament recently adopted its annual report on Serbia’s progress in the accession process.

The document warns that the process is blocked not only by Serbia’s lack of alignment with the EU’s foreign policy, but also by democratic backsliding, weak institutions, and the erosion of freedoms.

EU wants Serbia to join sanctions on Russia as condition for accession — President Vucic

Vucic highlights the EU will always come up with ‘something else’ for why they can’t join immediately pic.twitter.com/7mFyB9diR9

— RT Intl (@RT_on_X) July 10, 2026

According to the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, Tonino Picula, the stalemate is primarily linked to limited progress on democratic standards and the rule of law.

Although the European Commission had recommended opening Chapter 3 of the negotiations with Serbia — which covers areas such as taxation, social policy, and education — eight of the EU’s 27 member states opposed the move during a meeting of the bloc’s ambassadors.

The lack of consensus prevented the opening of the negotiating chapter, but the issue will be discussed again at the EU General Affairs Council. Serbia obtained EU candidate status in 2012 and formally began accession negotiations two years later.

Although the Serbian government has voted in favor of UN resolutions condemning Russia’s special military operation, it has refused to join EU sanctions against Russia, citing historical, religious, and economic ties.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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