We expect Serbia to align with European Union’s (EU) common foreign and security policy (CFSP), which also means to introduce sanctions against Russia, but CFSP alignment is not a criteria on the basis of which negotiations can be suspended, said European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. Responding to questions by MEPs, Varhelyi said the EU has asked Serbia to be on its side and to align its policy with that of the EU.

“For many of our member states this is now maybe the most important criteria against which progress can be made. However, I need to recall that, according to the rules which we are all bound by, which is the negotiating framework and the new methodology, CFSP alignment is not a criteria on the basis of which you can suspend accession negotiations and as you know, suspending accession negotiations is only the last resort. We have seen one case where the negotiations have been put on hold, and you have seen how such a decision can come about. I am still hopeful that Serbia understands the importance of them helping us in this fight against the impact of the war Russia has instigated against Ukraine and we are hopeful that Serbia will also come around at the end,” said Varhelyi.

Varhelyi also commented on the judicial reform in Serbia.

“On the judicial reforms taking place in Serbia, this has been an outstanding reform for quite a while. It took quite a heavy political investment to get it going but we have it now. Just to illustrate the magnitude of this reform – it took a national referendum to get it approved. And now it is there, it is not only there, but it was only very recently, I think a couple of days ago, that the parliament passed now to the next stage, which is adopting the laws implementing this reform,” said the Commissioner.

In relation to the media, Varhelyi stressed that Serbia has “a long list that it needs to do.”

“Serbia still has a long list to do, and for that reason we have managed to agree with them on a roadmap for all the reforms. This roadmap is I think directly implemented and supervised by the Prime Minister,” said Varhelyi, stressing that progress will also be measured in relation to the delivery on the media freedom.

He said the EU is helping local independent media.

“We are providing funding for that, but I think that it should be this road map that should bring about the media balance on the Serbian media landscape,” Varhelyi added.