Vucic: Ukraine Has Greater EU Support for Membership Than Serbia Does

Volodymir Tolkach, Aleksandar Vucic, Belgrade, August 31 2023(Photo: instagram.com/buducnostsrbijeav)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has stated that Serbia never received such political support for Euro-integrations from the EU as the Union has offered Ukraine.

Speaking for the Financial Times, Vucic insisted he has “nothing against Ukrainians” but that the way the EU has fast-tracked Ukraine’s membership bid – granting the country candidate status four months after it applied and indicating that membership talks may commence next year – makes it clear that such political support “has never been there for [Serbia.”

Kiev applied for EU membership in February 2022, just days after the Russian invasion, and was granted candidate status in June, while Belgrade had to wait more than four years from submitting its application to enter the pre-accession process.
 
Serbia’s negotiations are currently stalled over multiple issues, including Belgrade’s failure to normalize relations with Kosovo, the British daily reported, adding that the process has additionally been hindered by the country’s refusal to align with the EU’s sanctions against Russia.

The daily went on to recall the EU’s pledge to accelerate accession for the six countries of the Western Balkans, citing European Council president Charles Michel’s assertion that the Union will be ready for new members by 2030.