Bilcik on Sanctions against Russia: I Hope Serbia Will Follow Montenegro’s Example

Vladimir Bilcik (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/DS)

The European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia, Vladimir Bilcik, welcomed Montenegro’s decision to introduce sanctions against Russia on April 8, adding he hoped Belgrade would follow suit.

“The good news is that the Government of Montenegro has introduced sanctions against the Kremlin. I hope that all EU candidate countries in the Western Balkan can follow this example,” Bilcik said.

Serbia, the only state in the region that is an official candidate for EU membership, has refused to join sanctions against Russia over its attack on Ukraine. Albania and North Macedonia joined the embargo before Montenegro.

A spokesperson for the European Union, Peter Stano, said in Brussels, on April 8, that Serbia was expected to align its policy with the Union’s sanctions against Russia or introduce similar measures.

As he said, the EU would make important decisions for Serbia based on Belgrade’s commitment to the values and principles of the Union. Stano explained that Brussels was in constant contact with Belgrade as part of the accession negotiations, and that regular contacts were being maintained at different levels – from experts to top-ranking politicians.