Europe

Europe

Merz: Serbia must choose between Europe, Russia and China

06 June 2026 08:35 (UTC +04:00)

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European leaders on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to EU enlargement at the conclusion of the EU–Western Balkans Summit in Tivat, while telling Serbia that further progress towards membership depends on reforms and alignment with the bloc’s foreign and security policy, N1 reports.

The summit ended without a joint declaration, but EU and member-state leaders reiterated their support for enlargement and again highlighted Montenegro as the frontrunner among candidate countries, aiming to join the bloc by 2028.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Serbia must make a clear strategic choice about its future.

It is not possible to pursue a policy of balancing between Russia, China and Europe, Merz told reporters in Tivat. Serbia’s path to the EU is open, but it must decide which side it is on, he added.

According to Slovenia’s STA news agency, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said several countries had pressed Belgrade on sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine, which Serbia has still not imposed.

“They asked this of us,” Vucic said, describing the talks as positive. He highlighted a French-German initiative aimed at simplifying or accelerating the enlargement process.

“We fully support this. It will change the dynamics and energy of the EU accession process. It means that when you achieve something, you can sit at the table,” he said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Serbia faces clear conditions for opening a third cluster of accession chapters, including reforms in the rule of law, media freedom and electoral legislation, as well as alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy.

Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa said Serbian authorities had committed to a concrete timetable during talks in Belgrade on Thursday.

Based on implementation, the European Commission will prepare an assessment, and the EU Council will decide whether the time has come to open the third round of negotiations, Costa said.