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Serbian President Vucic Cautions Against Expecting Swift EU Membership
Summary
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed skepticism about a rapid expansion of the European Union, stating that aspiring members should not expect to join the bloc in the near future. The remarks were made at a conference of EU candidate countries, where Ukraine's representative advocated for an accelerated accession process.
BELGRADE – Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday that countries seeking to join the European Union should not anticipate a swift accession. Speaking at a conference for EU candidate nations, Vucic expressed a lack of optimism for a major expansion of the bloc in the coming years, despite affirming that the "European path" remains the best option for the region. "We... should not expect miracles or major EU enlargements in the coming years," Vucic stated.
The conference included representatives from the Western Balkans—comprising Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo—as well as Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia, all of which aspire to EU membership. Among these, Montenegro is aiming for a 2028 entry, while others like Serbia, Bosnia, and Kosovo are further behind in the process. Moldova and Georgia were granted candidate status in June 2022.
In contrast, Ukraine’s parliament speaker, Ruslan Stefanchuk, who co-hosted the event, argued for accelerating the membership process to counter Russia's policies. "The new wave of enlargement must be as wide and as strong as possible, so that the process of creating Europe can finally be completed," Stefanchuk said. Ukraine began the first phase of its membership talks with the EU last month, a process that diplomats expect to be lengthy and complex.
AdSerbia has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and supports its territorial integrity, though it also maintains some ties with Moscow. Relations between Serbia and Russia have reportedly soured following Serbian sales of ammunition to Ukraine. For its part, Kyiv does not recognize the independence of Kosovo, which Serbia considers its former province.