Ana Brnabic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)
Speaker of the Assembly of Serbia Ana Brnabic stated on Dec. 4 that she did not expect the opening of Cluster 3 in Serbia’s accession negotiations with the EU, although the technical conditions had been fulfilled four years ago, and said that joining the EU depended on political will and not on merit, as was being declared.
She spoke via video link at the “EU-Western Balkans” annual summit, organized by the Friends of Europe independent institute from Brussels, which rallies representatives of governments, industry and the civil society from the EU and the Western Balkans, discussing what is next for Europe and the region.
“Continued insistence on this being based on merit has almost become an insult for many of us in the Western Balkans, because it is not about setting goals: when you fulfill, implement reforms, the clusters will magically open – they will not. Serbia fulfilled all the technical conditions for opening Cluster 3 back in 2021. We will start 2026 without it. It does not seem that it would be opened in December,” Brnabic stated.
She pointed out that she was confused about what political will in the member countries depended on. “But I would not complain too much. I believe our friends, partners and neighbors from North Macedonia are even more frustrated, confused and disappointed,” she said.
To get full access to all content of interest see our
Subscription offer
Or
Register for free
And read up to 5 articles each month.
Already have an account? Please Log in.