Reports indicate EU member states have threatened to jeopardize Serbia’s EU membership aspirations.
Serbia faces the potential loss of its EU membership bid if President Aleksandar Vucic attends World War II commemoration events in Russia next month, according to reports in the Financial Times and The Telegraph on Tuesday.
Moscow is scheduled to hold a large military parade on Red Square on May 9 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany and its allies. Vucic has already confirmed his intention to attend.
EU officials have reportedly informed Serbia that Vucic’s planned trip “would breach their membership criteria,” according to The Telegraph. Serbia was granted EU candidate status in 2012.
Kaja Kallas, a leading EU diplomat, stated on Monday that the EU “did not want any candidate country to take part in the May 9 events in Moscow.”
Jonatan Vseviov, Chancellor of Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “We need to ensure that they understand that certain decisions come at a cost,” adding, “The consequence is them not joining the European Union.” He characterized the issue as “an important litmus test.”
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze indicated that EU foreign ministers had given Serbian officials “very clear guidance” to abstain from attending Victory Day celebrations in Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova likened the pressure exerted on Serbia to “a revival of Euro-Nazism.”
Serbia and Russia have maintained close ties since the 19th century. Belgrade has refrained from supplying weapons to Ukraine and has voiced criticism of the EU sanctions imposed on Moscow. Vucic has consistently highlighted the importance of maintaining amicable relations with Russia and has advocated for resolving the Ukraine conflict through diplomatic means.
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