Progress report: Serbia maintains high-level relations with Russia and China and glorifies war criminals

Serbia has made no progress in foreign and security policy, as its level of alignment remains unchanged. Relations with Russia and China are of particular concern. Dialogue with Kosovo has not produced the desired results. Domestically, war criminals continue to be glorified. In addition, Serbia received poor marks for freedom of expression.

These remarks are made in the European Commission’s progress report to Serbia.

The report states that “some of Serbia’s actions and statements contradict the EU’s foreign policy positions”.

The document states that Serbia has high-level relations with the Russian Federation, which raises questions about Serbia’s strategic orientation.

The European Commission has also called on Serbia to prioritize closer alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including restrictive measures. In addition, the document states that Serbia continued to cooperate with the EU to prevent circumvention of sanctions and to continue to support Ukraine.

However, the Commission also calls on official Belgrade to intensify its efforts to prevent any attempt to use Serbian territory or companies registered in Serbia to circumvent restrictive EU measures.

The Commission also calls on Serbia to make credible efforts to close the space for foreign interference and disinformation and to take steps to strengthen the resilience of society against other forms of hybrid threats.

The report highlights Serbia’s growing relationship with China, including a free trade agreement that has come into force. The Commission sees this as a “strategic concern”.

In addition to the remarks in the report, Serbia was also criticized by the European Union’s head of diplomacy, Josep Borrell, who told Serbia that it cannot maintain relations and do business with Russia and become part of the European Union.

“You simply cannot maintain relations with Russia or try to carry on as usual and expect your country to become part of the EU, one or the other.” Some of our partners fully agree with our external security policy. He could mention North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, which is joining voluntarily,” Borrelli said./The Geopost/