Serbia, EU flags (BETAPHOTO/European Council/FRANCOIS LENOIR)
The European Commission’s (EC) bid to advance Serbia’s EU accession with opening negotiations Cluster 3 has not been met with understanding of all member states. Several governments are skeptical of the move, while the Netherlands is prepared to veto it, Brussels portal Politico reported in the evening of July 6, citing five diplomats and officials.
The Netherlands, according to these sources, will continue to oppose extending new enlargement opportunities to Serbia on its current trajectory, while diplomats from other two EU member countries said it is unlikely that Belgrade will open a new cluster any time soon.
Without a decision to open the cluster, the EC will turn to other ways to reward Belgrade for the legal changes, according to two of the officials, who like other sources, spoke to Politico on condition of anonymity.
Officials are creating a list of options, although it will unlikely be presented before general elections expected in the coming months, after President Aleksandar Vucic’s surprise announcement that he would step down, Politico reported, adding that Vucic is expected to campaign for the post of prime minister.
On July 8, the EC will ask EU ambassadors to give the go-ahead for opening a new accession negotiations cluster, Politico reported, recalling that officials in Brussels have long recommended the opening of Cluster 3, but that the decision requires approval of all 27 member countries.
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