Serbia’s future is in the European Union, “nowhere else”, insists Emmanuel Macron

The future of Serbia is “within the European Union and nowhere else”, declared Emmanuel Macron alongside his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic, Monday April 8 at the Elysée. “Serbia must not doubt” of this, “whatever the wounds of the recent past”. “No vicissitude should make us doubt this path”insisted the head of state.

Serbia, which is negotiating its accession to the EU, has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It nevertheless refuses to join the sanctions imposed by the West on Russia, and maintains privileged relations with this country. “It is important that Serbia continues to make this choice a reality (European)notably through greater alignment on our foreign policy decisions.”underlined Emmanuel Macron. “This choice must also be reinforced by continuing and accelerating reforms relating to the strengthening of the rule of law, independence, justice and media pluralism”he added.

The President of the Republic also called on Kosovo and Serbia to do “Everyone has their part”and to “go further” on the path to normalization. After a bloody war and then the declaration of independence of Kosovo, Pristina and Belgrade also ended up engaging, in 2011, in a dialogue under the aegis of the EU, which aims to normalize their relations. However, tensions remain numerous between the two countries.