Franco-German Non-Paper Could Speed Serbia's EU Path, Official Says

A new Franco-German initiative aimed at reforming EU enlargement could significantly speed up Serbia's accession process, believes Danijel Apostolovic, head of the Serbian Mission to the European Union.

"I believe it is significant that this non-paper is backed by the EU’s two most influential member states, France and Germany," Apostolovic told Serbian state TV (RTS). He highlighted key innovations within the proposal, such as simplifying the procedures for opening accession clusters. This would allow candidate countries that meet the necessary criteria to progress more rapidly toward membership.

The diplomat also pointed to the proposal for gradual integration of candidate countries into specific EU policy areas, including the single market, the Schengen Area, and energy. Greater involvement in the work of European institutions is also envisioned. While Apostolovic acknowledged it is too early to predict the exact timeline for implementation, he expressed confidence that these proposals will eventually translate into concrete EU policies.

Reflecting on recent high-level meetings, Apostolovic noted that the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat has injected new dynamics into Serbia's integration efforts. The immediate priority remains meeting the political criteria required to open Cluster 3. Discussions are set to continue with European Commission officials, focusing on these political conditions for accession.

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I believe it is significant that this non-paper is backed by the EU’s two most influential member states, France and Germany.