About: Serbia
EU enlargement in 2021: Moribund or revenant?
In the Western Balkans, where all EU applicant countries (bar Turkey) are located, the year ahead will be dominated by Europe's quest for a vaccine and efforts to restart the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Serbia opens Russian-Turkish gas project portion
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on Friday (1 January) opened a portion of a Russian gas project running through his country and hailed it as key for the security of its energy supply.
Serbia to start COVID-19 vaccinations Thursday
Serbia will begin vaccinating people against Covid-19 on Thursday (24 December), President Aleksandar Vučić said Wednesday, making the Balkan state one of the first in Europe to launch a campaign with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.
European project in Serbia is now at mercy of Aleksandar Vucic
After eight years of democratic erosion, the regime of Alexander Vučić has fully restored authoritarianism. in Serbia. Today, he commands more unchecked political power than Slobodan Milošević did at the height of his rule in 1990, writes Igor Bandović.
Russia’s Trojan Stream under the Black Sea
The EU’s tacit acceptance of the TurkStream is a serious and dangerous misjudgement of the perils this diversionary pipeline presents, writes Olga Bielkova.
EU enlargement: Beware the veto epidemic
Dangling its veto, Bulgaria only uses its position of EU member to achieve some of its foreign policy interests, in the same way that many other have done before. The problem is that the EU does not have the desire and the way to discourage such unilateral actions, writes Orhan Dragaš.
Ethnic Croats to prop new Serbian government
Serbia's new government will have a shorter term, as the next general election will be held in April 2022 at the latest, simultaneously with the presidential polls and municipal elections in Belgrade, Serbian president and leader of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), Aleksandar Vučić, said on Tuesday (20 October).
Commission seeks to revive enlargement with new package
The European Commission published its long-awaited enlargement package on Tuesday (6 October) in a fresh attempt to revive the stalled process with promises of more substantial economic assistance in exchange for reforms. The package included country-specific reports on the progress of the six Western Balkans countries and Turkey.
Why is recent Serbia-Kosovo agreement no good news for Western Balkans?
The Serbian leadership signed an agreement in Washington in order to advance the achievement of the so-called “Serbian world", and that risks opening the Pandora's box in the whole region of the Western Balkans, writes Filip Milacic.
Belgrade-Pristina deal only way to counter ‘influences from the East’, Kosovo PM says
Unless Serbia and Kosovo normalise their relations, the Western Balkans will remain vulnerable to foreign influence coming from the East, Kosovo's Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti warned MEPs on the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee Thursday evening (10 September.
Serbia, Kosovo sign economic pact at White House
Former Balkan foes Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on a historic pact to normalise economic relations, US President Donald Trump announced at the White House on Friday (4 September), hailing the agreement as "historic".
Serbia, Kosovo leaders gear up for tough US talks
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is travelling to Washington this week for talks between Belgrade and Priština in the hope of discussing the economy while Kosovo Premier Avdullah Hoti insists that mutual recognition is the only topic he can discuss with...
Montenegro votes with identity, economy at the fore
Montenegro's pro-West leader is fighting to extend his party's 30-year grip on the EU candidate country on Sunday (30 August) in polls dominated by identity debates and anxiety over a pandemic-hit economy.
Serbian purchase of missile defence system shows ties deepening with China
Serbia has bought a new generation of medium-range, radar-guided surface-to-air missiles from China in a new sign of deepening cooperation between Beijing and Belgrade.
Nothing gets done by sitting out
For years, Serbia lagged behind. We were a step away from bankruptcy, in April 2012, our unemployment rate was 25.5%, with youth unemployment at 51.5%. Our leaders spent money we did not have and watched our infrastructure decay and our population flee the country. Today, the reality is very different, writes Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić.
The dictatorship next door: Why Serbia’s regime threatens Europe’s credibility
Many European governments and institutions continue to tolerate the regime of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić despite its descent into autocracy, writes Vuk Jeremić.
Serbia-Kosovo talks ‘back on track’ after video meet
The EU said Sunday (12 June) that long-stalled talks between Serbia and Kosovo were "back on track" after a video meeting between the two leaders.
An unexpected pole position: The EU in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue
To almost everybody’s surprise, the EU just regained the pole position in the dialogue between Prishtina and Belgrade. But is the bloc sufficiently prepared for the race, asks Andreas Wittkowsky. Andreas Wittkowsky is the head of Project Peace and Security...
EU expects breakthrough in Serbia- Kosovo talks after Vucic electoral win
EU-mediated negotiations aimed at normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo will restart in July after being stalled for almost two years, EU envoy Miroslav Lajcak said on Monday (22 June).
Ruling conservatives claim victory in Serbian parliamentary vote
Serbia's ruling conservative party led by President Aleksandar Vučić is set for a landslide win in parliamentary elections held on Sunday (21 June), according to results projected by Ipsos and CeSID pollsters.
Serbia ready to sacrifice EU membership over Kosovo deal
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday (18 June) he would reject European Union membership if Belgrade does not receive concessions in return for recognising Kosovo and dropping attempts to stop it joining the United Nations.
Serbia’s ruling party certain to win first post-COVID elections
Serbia will hold parliamentary, provincial and local elections on Sunday (June 21), which the ruling Serbian Progressive Party is expected to win hands down, while the biggest opposition bloc plans to boycott the vote, saying it will not be fair and legitimate.
Open letter to Donald Tusk: EPP’s support for Vucic is a disgrace
European People's Party President Donald Tusk has publicly supported Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić ahead of the country's parliamentary election on Sunday (21 June), which the opposition is going to boycott. In response, Serbian opposition leader Dragan Djilas sent an open letter to Tusk. EURACTIV is publishing its shortened version.