EU Parliament Criticizes Serbia's Progress, While Commission Sees Path Forward

Members of the European Parliament have adopted a resolution expressing significant concern over Serbia's progress toward European Union membership. The resolution, passed with a substantial majority, highlights a regression in the rule of law and a failure to align with the EU's foreign policy. "The situation in Serbia, which has been very worrying for a long time, has further deteriorated over the past year," stated Tonino Picula, the European Parliament's rapporteur for Serbia. He pointed to a continuous erosion of political rights and civil liberties, institutional weakening, and a decline in areas fundamental to the accession process.

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The situation in Serbia, which has been very worrying for a long time, has further deteriorated over the past year, with a continuous erosion of political rights and civil liberties, systematic weakening of institutions, regression in areas that form the basis of the accession process and anti-European political choices.

Despite these criticisms, the European Commission presents a different perspective. "We don't want Serbia to lag behind," said Marta Kos, the European Commissioner for Enlargement. She noted that the Commission has renewed its recommendations to the Council to open Cluster 3 in Serbia's accession negotiations, citing recent positive developments. Kos specifically praised Serbia's efforts to revise its controversial judicial and electoral laws, which she described as previously mishandled.

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We don't want Serbia to lag behind. That is why the European Commission, in light of recent positive developments, has renewed its recommendations to the Council to open Cluster 3 in the accession negotiations with Serbia.

However, this divergence in views has raised questions. Picula himself expressed surprise at the Commission's positive assessment, recalling a previous, sharply critical report from the Commission in late 2025. "Honestly, I don't see substantial progress in Serbia between, say, November last year and July this year," he remarked, suggesting the Commission's stance warrants further scrutiny.

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Honestly, I don't see substantial progress in Serbia between, say, November last year and July this year.

Some MEPs also voiced skepticism about the Commission's optimism. Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstätter suggested that while Commissioner Kos might understand the situation, other individuals within the Commission, and potentially Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, may have different motivations. "I fear that Ursula von der Leyen wants this, I don't know for what reason, because obviously this government in Serbia is not ready for the next step, and we must clearly say that," Brandstätter stated. He emphasized that while he supports Serbia's EU membership, it should not come at the cost of an authoritarian regime, which he believes contradicts EU values and the rule of law.

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I fear that Ursula von der Leyen wants this, I don't know for what reason, because obviously this government in Serbia is not ready for the next step, and we must clearly say that. I want Serbia to be a member of the EU, but not with an authoritarian regime. That does not work. That is against our values. That is against the rule of law.