Merz: Serbia’s Path to the EU Is Open, but It Must Decide Where It Stands

BETAPHOTO/European Council/Alexandros MICHAILIDIS

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on June 5 that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had been made clear that Serbia’s path to the European Union (EU) was open, but that the country had to decide where its future should be.

“We have told President Vucic that Serbia’s path to the European Union is open. However, Serbia must decide where it stands. Balancing between Russia, China and Europe is not possible,” Merz said to reporters in Tivat, where he attended the EU-Western Balkans summit.

The German official also said he had spoken with President Vucic one-on-one, and that they had a joint meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, President of the European Council Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, adding that this position had been clearly conveyed to the Serbian president. “Serbia must decide where it sees its future. And if Serbia’s answer is ‘Europe,’ then Europe’s answer is ‘Serbia,’” Merz said.