Accession of Serbia to the European Union
Accession of Serbia to the European Union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Status | Candidate negotiating | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Serbia portal |
Serbia applied to join the European Union (EU) in 2009 and has been a candidate for membership since 2012, along with nine other states. Serbia is the largest country in Southeast Europe seeking entry into the EU.[4][5][6]
A poll in June 2023 found that only 33% of Serbs wanted to join the EU.[7] Obstacles for accession include the requirement to recognize statehood for Kosovo, foreign policy alignment with Russia, democratic backsliding including allegations of fraud in elections in December 2023, and domestic policies such as rule of law and media freedom.[8][5][9]
History
[edit]Identification
[edit]Negotiations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (later the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro) intensified following the overthrow of Slobodan Milošević in 2000, and the EU officially declared the Balkan states potential candidates for membership following the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki on 21 June 2003.[10]
Stabilisation and Association Agreement
[edit]On 7 November 2007, Serbia initiated a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. The SAA came into force on 1 September 2013.
N/A: Not applicable.
|
Recommendation
[edit]The European Commission recommended making Serbia an official candidate on 12 October 2011. The Council also made the recommendation on 28 February 2012.
Candidacy
[edit]Serbia received full candidate status on 1 March 2012. In December 2013, the Council of the European Union approved opening negotiations for Serbia's accession.
Application
[edit]Serbia officially applied for European Union membership on 22 December 2009.
Developmental Aid
[edit]Until 2020, Serbia had been receiving €2.9bn of developmental aid from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, a funding mechanism for EU candidate countries.
Chronology of relations with the EU
[edit]Date | Event |
---|---|
1998 | The EU Council of Ministers establishes political and economic conditionality for the development of bilateral relations. |
21 June 2003 | The Stabilisation and Association Process is confirmed as the EU policy for the Western Balkans. The EU's perspective on these countries is confirmed. |
October 2004 | European Council conclusions open up a process for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SSA). |
October 2005 | Negotiations for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement are launched. |
3 May 2006 | SAA negotiations called off due to lack of progress on cooperation with the ICTY. |
13 June 2007 | SAA negotiations with Serbia resumed, following a clear commitment by the country to achieve full cooperation with the ICTY. |
1 November 2007 | Serbia's SAA is initialed. |
1 January 2008 | Entry into force of the Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreement between Serbia and the EU. |
18 February 2008 | Council adopts revised European partnership for Serbia. |
29 April 2008 | The Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) and Interim agreement on trade and trade-related issues between Serbia and the EU are signed in Luxembourg. |
19 December 2009 | Visa requirement lifted for Serbs travelling to Schengen countries. |
22 December 2009 | Serbia officially applies for membership in the European Union. |
14 June 2010 | EU members decide to start SAA ratification process |
31 January 2011 | Serbia replies to Commission questionnaire |
14 October 2011 | European Commission delivers its Opinion on Serbia's EU membership application, granting candidate status based on one key priority. |
1 March 2012 | European Council grants Serbia official candidate status for EU membership |
28 June 2013 | European Council endorsed the commission's recommendation to open negotiations with Serbia |
1 September 2013 | Entry into force of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement |
25 September 2013 | Screening of the acquis started. |
17 December 2013 | Council adopted the negotiating framework with Serbia and agreed to hold the 1st Intergovernmental Conference with Serbia in January 2014 |
21 January 2014 | 1st EU-Serbia Intergovernmental Conference held, signaling the official start of negotiations. |
25 March 2015 | All EU acquis screenings are completed. |
14 December 2015 | Opening of Chapters 32 "financial control" and 35 "other issues – Item 1: Normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo*" |
18 July 2016 | Opening of Chapters 23 "Judiciary and fundamental rights" and 24 "Justice, freedom and security" |
13 December 2016 | Opening of Chapters 5, Public procurement, and 25, Science and Research. Chapter 25, Science and Research, provisionally closed. |
27 February 2017 | Opening of Chapters 20, Enterprise and industrial policy, and 26, Education and culture. Chapter 26, Education and culture, is provisionally closed. |
20 June 2017 | Opening of Chapters 7, Intellectual property law, and 29, Customs Union. |
11 December 2017 | Opening of Chapters 6, Company law, and 30, External relations. |
25 June 2018 | Opening of Chapters 13, Fisheries, and 33, Financial and budgetary provisions. |
10 December 2018 | Opening of Chapters 17, Economic and monetary policy, and 18, Statistics. |
27 June 2019 | Opening of Chapter 9, Financial services |
9 December 2019 | Opening of Chapter 4, Free Movement of Capital |
1 February 2021 | New Methodology comes into effect |
14 December 2021 | Opening of Chapters 14, Transport Policy, 15, Energy, 21, Trans-European Networks and 27, Environment and Climate Change |
Foreign Policy
[edit]Serbia refused to join international sanctions against Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. In response, the European Parliament passed a resolution that stated in part it "strongly regrets Serbia’s non-alignment with EU sanctions against Russia, which damages its EU accession process."[27]
Serbia and Kosovo
[edit]The biggest obstacle to Serbia's accession to the EU is its strained relationship with Kosovo,[5] which escalated after the 2008 Kosovo declaration of independence. The Serbian government has declared that the status of Kosovo should not be tied to the EU negotiations. In September 2012, the EU Enlargement Commissioner, Štefan Füle, denied that the European Union would insist on Serbia's recognition of Kosovo before it can join the organisation.[28]
On 19 April 2013, the governments of Kosovo and Serbia completed the Brussels Agreement, which was hailed as a major step towards normalising relations and enabled the start of EU accession talks with Serbia.[29] In November 2013, Kosovo's Minister of Foreign Affairs Enver Hoxhaj suggested that the EU should approve the accession of Kosovo and Serbia simultaneously due to concerns that if Serbia was admitted first they could veto Kosovo's membership.[30] However, Serbia's accession negotiations were not halted.
In March 2021, the European Parliament adopted a report on Serbia, which, amongst other things, emphasized that the normalization of relationships between Serbia and Kosovo is "a priority and a requirement for EU accession."[31]
Negotiations
[edit]Progression | 34 / 34
|
34 / 34
|
22 / 34
|
2 / 34
| ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acquis Chapter[32] | Screening Started | Screening Completed | Chapter Opened | Chapter Closed | ||||||||||||||
Overview | 34 out of 34 | 34 out of 34 | 22 out of 34 | 2 out of 34 | ||||||||||||||
1. Free Movement of Goods | 2014-06-17 | 2014-09-12 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers | 2014-01-23 | 2014-03-25 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services | 2014-01-30 | 2014-03-13 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
4. Free Movement of Capital | 2014-10-13 | 2014-12-15 | 2019-12-10 | – | ||||||||||||||
5. Public Procurement | 2014-03-21 | 2014-05-13 | 2016-12-13 | – | ||||||||||||||
6. Company Law | 2014-12-11 | 2015-02-05 | 2017-12-11 | – | ||||||||||||||
7. Intellectual Property Law | 2014-09-24 | 2014-11-13 | 2017-06-20 | – | ||||||||||||||
8. Competition Policy | 2014-03-31 | 2014-11-05 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
9. Financial Services | 2015-01-21 | 2015-03-17 | 2019-06-27 | – | ||||||||||||||
10. Information Society & Media | 2014-05-22 | 2014-07-02 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
11. Agriculture & Rural Development | 2014-03-18 | 2014-09-16 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy | 2014-02-03 | 2014-10-24 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
13. Fisheries | 2014-09-30 | 2014-11-14 | 2018-06-25 | – | ||||||||||||||
14. Transport Policy | 2014-12-16 | 2015-02-27 | 2021-12-14 | – | ||||||||||||||
15. Energy | 2014-04-29 | 2014-06-12 | 2021-12-14 | – | ||||||||||||||
16. Taxation | 2014-10-14 | 2015-03-06 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
17. Economic & Monetary Policy | 2014-12-02 | 2015-03-12 | 2018-12-10 | – | ||||||||||||||
18. Statistics | 2014-05-20 | 2014-11-26 | 2018-12-10 | – | ||||||||||||||
19. Social Policy & Employment | 2014-02-10 | 2014-06-26 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy | 2014-04-03 | 2014-07-02 | 2017-02-27 | – | ||||||||||||||
21. Trans-European Networks | 2014-04-29 | 2015-02-27 | 2021-12-14 | – | ||||||||||||||
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments | 2014-10-01 | 2015-01-29 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights | 2013-09-25 | 2013-12-10 | 2016-07-18 | – | ||||||||||||||
24. Justice, Freedom & Security | 2013-10-02 | 2013-12-13 | 2016-07-18 | – | ||||||||||||||
25. Science & Research | 2014-10-06 | 2014-12-01 | 2016-12-13 | 2016-12-13 | ||||||||||||||
26. Education & Culture | 2014-02-20 | 2014-04-04 | 2017-02-27 | 2017-02-27 | ||||||||||||||
27. Environment | 2014-09-15 | 2014-11-21 | 2021-12-14 | – | ||||||||||||||
28. Consumer & Health Protection | 2014-12-04 | 2015-02-04 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
29. Customs Union | 2014-03-26 | 2014-06-04 | 2017-06-20 | – | ||||||||||||||
30. External Relations | 2014-07-02 | 2014-10-09 | 2017-12-11 | – | ||||||||||||||
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy | 2014-07-15 | 2014-10-10 | – | – | ||||||||||||||
32. Financial Control | 2013-10-17 | 2013-11-26 | 2015-12-14 | – | ||||||||||||||
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions | 2015-01-27 | 2015-03-24 | 2018-06-25 | – | ||||||||||||||
34. Institutions | – | – | – | – | ||||||||||||||
35. Other Issues: Relations with Kosovo* | 2014-01-22 | 2015-03-25 | 2015-12-14 | – | ||||||||||||||
Progression | 34 / 34
|
34 / 34
|
22 / 34
|
2 / 34
|
Acquis chapter | 2010[33] | 2012[34] | 2013[35] | 2014[36] | 2015[37] | 2016[38] | 2018[39] | 2019[40] | 2020[41] | 2021[42] | 2022[43] | 2023[44] | 2024[45] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Free Movement of Goods | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
4. Free Movement of Capital | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
5. Public Procurement | Considerable efforts needed | Considerable efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
6. Company Law | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation |
7. Intellectual Property Law | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation |
8. Competition Policy | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
9. Financial Services | Considerable efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
10. Information Society & Media | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
11. Agriculture & Rural Development | Early stage | Early stage | Considerable efforts needed | Considerable efforts needed | Early stage | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation |
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
13. Fisheries | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
14. Transport Policy | Some level of preparation | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation |
15. Energy | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
16. Taxation | Further efforts needed | Considerable efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation† |
17. Economic & Monetary Policy | Further efforts needed | Considerable efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation† | Good level of preparation† |
18. Statistics | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation† |
19. Social Policy & Employment | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy | Some level of preparation | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
21. Trans-European Networks | Considerable efforts needed | Considerable efforts needed | Considerable efforts needed | Some level of preparation | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation† |
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments | Considerable efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights | Considerable efforts needed | Some level of preparation | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation |
24. Justice, Freedom & Security | Considerable efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Moderately prepared†† |
25. Science & Research | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation |
26. Education & Culture | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Some level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation |
27. Environment | Early stage | Considerable efforts needed | Considerable efforts needed | Some level of preparation | Early stage | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation |
28. Consumer & Health Protection | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
29. Customs Union | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation | Good level of preparation |
30. External Relations | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Further efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
32. Financial Control | Early stage | Early stage | Considerable efforts needed | Considerable efforts needed | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared | Moderately prepared |
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions | Early stage | Early stage | Early stage | Early stage | Early stage | Early stage | Early stage | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation | Some level of preparation |
34. Institutions | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia | Currently not applicable for Serbia |
35. Other Issues Normalisation with Kosovo | Early stage | Early stage | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed | Further efforts needed |
Legend:
Chapters in bold indicate completed chapters. † indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "moderately prepared" AND "good level of preparation". †† indicates chapters in which the European Commission has simultaneously awarded the chapter both "some level of preparation" AND "moderately prepared". totally incompatible early stage considerable efforts needed some level of preparation further efforts needed moderately prepared no major difficulties expected good level of preparation well prepared / well advanced |
Clusters | Acquis Chapter | State of Play | Cluster Opened | Cluster Closed |
---|---|---|---|---|
Overview | Overview | 22 out of 34 | 3 out of 6 | 0 out of 6 |
Fundamentals | 23. Judiciary & Fundamental Rights | Opened | Opened | – |
24. Justice, Freedom & Security | Opened | |||
Economic criteria | – | |||
Functioning of democratic institutions | – | |||
Public administration reform | – | |||
5. Public Procurement | Opened | |||
18. Statistics | Opened | |||
32. Financial Control | Opened | |||
Internal Market | 1. Free Movement of Goods | Serbia working on fulfilment of opening benchmarks | – | – |
2. Freedom of Movement For Workers | Draft EU Common Position in Council | |||
3. Right of Establishment & Freedom To Provide Services | Draft EU Common Position in Council | |||
4. Free Movement of Capital | Opened | |||
6. Company Law | Opened | |||
7. Intellectual Property Law | Opened | |||
8. Competition Policy | Serbia working on fulfillment of opening benchmarks | |||
9. Financial Services | Opened | |||
28. Consumer & Health Protection | Draft EU Common Position in Council | |||
Competitiveness
and inclusive growth |
10. Information Society & Media | Draft EU Common Position in Council | – | – |
16. Taxation | Opening Benchmarks Assessment Report in Council | |||
17. Economic & Monetary Policy | Opened | |||
19. Social Policy & Employment | Opening Benchmarks Assessment Report in Council | |||
20. Enterprise & Industrial Policy | Opened | |||
25. Science & Research | Closed | |||
26. Education & Culture | Closed | |||
29. Customs Union | Opened | |||
Green agenda
and sustainable connectivity |
14. Transport Policy | Opened | Opened | – |
15. Energy | Opened | |||
21. Trans-European Networks | Opened | |||
27. Environment | Opened | |||
Resources, agriculture
and cohesion |
11. Agriculture & Rural Development | Opening Benchmarks Assessment Report in Council | – | – |
12. Food Safety, Veterinary & Phytosanitary Policy | Serbia working on fulfilment of opening benchmarks | |||
13. Fisheries | Opened | |||
22. Regional Policy & Coordination of Structural Instruments | Opening Benchmarks Assessment Report in Council | |||
33. Financial & Budgetary Provisions | Opened | |||
External relations | 30. External Relations | Opened | – | – |
31. Foreign, Security & Defence Policy | Screening Report in Council | |||
34. Institutions | – | Opened | Closed | |
35. Other Issues: Relations with Kosovo* | Opened | Opened | – |
Public opinion
[edit]Serbia was initially supportive of accession in the past due to better relationships with countries in the European Union, as well as for economic reasons. In the last decades because of the support of Kosovo's independence by most European countries, the economic crisis, the better relationships with the United States in addition to giving sanctions against Russia during the Russian invasion in Ukraine, support for EU membership went down. Serbia has become more opposed to the Western NATO bloc and prefer better ties and relationships with, for example, Russia for its shared Eastern Orthodox Christian Slavic traditions and China with its large economy and similar soft alliance with Russia.[citation needed]
A February 2024 NSPM poll recorded that 42.8% were for joining the EU, with 36.8% against. The rest were undecided or refused to give the answer. Another poll recorded the question "Would you support joining the EU if recognizing the independence of Kosovo was a condition for joining it?", 76% answered no, compared to 12.2% who said yes.[47]
An October 2023 Smart Plus poll found that if a referendum on joining the EU would take place, 44% would vote in favour of joining the EU, with 30% voting against, 15% undecided and 10% abstaining.[48]
Date | Question | Yes | No | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 2002[49] | Join EU? | 68% | 13% | 19% |
December 2003[49] | Join EU? | 72% | 8% | 20% |
September 2004[49] | Join EU? | 71% | 12% | 17% |
September 2005[49] | Join EU? | 64% | 12% | 24% |
September 2006[49] | Join EU? | 70% | 12% | 18% |
June 2007[50] | Join EU? | 69% | 15% | 15% |
June 2008[51] | Join EU? | 67% | 12% | 21% |
October 2008[51] | Join EU? | 65% | – | – |
December 2008[52] | Join EU? | 61% | 13% | 26% |
May 2009[53] | Join EU? | 61% | 17% | 22% |
December 2009[54] | Join EU? | 65% | 14% | 21% |
June 2010[55] | Join EU? | 65% | 15% | 20% |
December 2010[56] | Join EU? | 57% | 18% | 25% |
May 2011[51] | Join EU? | 55% | 27% | 18% |
June 2011[57][58] | Join EU? | 53% | 24% | 23% |
September 2011[59][60] | Join EU? | 46% | 37% | 17% |
December 2011[61][62] | Join EU? | 51% | 28% | 21% |
December 2012[63] | Join EU? | 41% | 31% | 27% |
July 2013[64] | Join EU? | 50% | 24% | 26% |
December 2013[65] | Join EU? | 51% | 22% | 27% |
June 2014[66] | Join EU? | 46% | 19% | 35% |
December 2014[67] | Join EU? | 44% | 25% | 31% |
June 2015[68] | Join EU? | 49% | 28% | 23% |
December 2015[69] | Join EU? | 48% | 28% | 24% |
June 2016[70] | Join EU? | 41% | 24% | 35% |
December 2016[71] | Join EU? | 47% | 29% | 24% |
June 2017[72] | Join EU? | 49% | 27% | 24% |
December 2017[73] | Join EU? | 52% | 24% | 24% |
July 2018[74] | Join EU? | 55% | 21% | 24% |
December 2018[75] | Join EU? | 55% | 25% | 20% |
July 2019[76] | Join EU? | 53% | 25% | 22% |
December 2019[77] | Join EU? | 54% | 24% | 22% |
December 2022[78] | Join EU? | 43% | 32% | 25% |
Date | Agency | Question | Yes | No | Undecided |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006[79] | Gallup Balkan Monitor | Join EU? | 61% | – | – |
October 2008[80] | Strategic Marketing | Join EU? | 61% | – | – |
November 2010[81] | Gallup Balkan Monitor | Join EU? | 63% | – | – |
March 2012[82] | B92/Ipsos Strategic Marketing | Join EU? | 49% | 34% | 5% |
July 2013[83] | Ipsos Strategic Marketing | Join EU? | 53% | – | – |
December 2014[84] | EU Delegation to Serbia | Join EU? | 57% | 28% | 15% |
December 2014[85] | Eurobarometer | Join EU? | 58% | 26% | 16% |
August 2017[86] | NSPM | Join EU? | 51.2% | 36.3% | 12.5% |
March 2022[87] | IPSOS | Join EU? | 35% | 44% | 21% |
June 2022[88] | Demostat | Join EU? | 34% | 51% | 15% |
October 2022[89] | NSPM | Join EU? | 34.7% | 48.8% | 16.5% |
January 2023[90] | NSPM | Join EU? | 35.5% | 47.7% | 16.8% |
April 2023[91] | NSPM | Join EU? | 42.7% | 44.2% | 13.1% |
May 2023[92] | NSPM | Join EU? | 40.6% | 45.9% | 13.5% |
June 2023[93] | NSPM | Join EU? | 43.7% | 46.7% | 9.6% |
October 2023[48] | Smart Plus | Join EU? | 44% | 30% | 15% |
February 2024[47] | NSPM | Join EU? | 42.8% | 36.8% | 20.4% |
Visa liberalisation process
[edit]On 1 January 2008, the Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreement between Serbia and the EU came into effect. On 19 December 2009, Visa requirements were lifted for Serbs travelling to Schengen countries.
Serbia's foreign relations with EU member states
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Serbia". World Trade Organization. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "SERBIA NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY". International Trade Administration. U.S. Department of Commerce. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Serbia". International Criminal Court. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ Milovančević, Vojislav (19 September 2023). "EKSKLUZIVNO Francusko-nemački predlog za proširenje EU: Ako ispuni uslove, Srbija bi mogla da postane članica 2030. godine" (in Serbian). Nova.rs. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Barber, Tony (11 November 2023). "Serbia is a poor fit for EU enlargement plans". Financial Times.
- ^ "'Serbia needs to align further with the EU', Commissioner Várhelyi tells Vučić in Belgrade". Euronews. 14 May 2024.
- ^ Kaiser, Julia (30 October 2024). "The Commission's annual Enlargement Package: How close are candidate states to EU membership?". The Parliament Magazine.
- ^ Sergio, Gregorio (14 November 2023). "EU 'lacked momentum' on Balkan enlargement, says Serbia's Europe minister". Politico.
- ^ "Poslanici EP usvojili izveštaj o Srbiji, Bilčik: Očekujemo od političkih lidera da zauzmu jasan stav i osude Rusiju" [deputies adopted the report on Serbia, Bilčik: We expect political leaders to take a clear position and condemn Russia]. Euronews (in Serbian). 10 May 2023.
- ^ "Eu-Western Balkans Summit Thessaloniki, 21 June 2003 Press Release". europa.eu. 21 June 2003. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013.
- ^ "SAA Agreement with Macedonia". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "SAA Agreement with Croatia". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "SAA Agreement with Albania". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "SAA Agreement with Montenegro". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "EU, Montenegro complete negotiations on pre-membership deal to bring country closer to bloc". International Herald Tribune. The Associated Press. 1 December 2006. Archived from the original on 25 September 2008. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
- ^ "SAA Agreement with Bosnia". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "SAA Agreement with Serbia". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
- ^ "SAA Agreement with Kosovo*". Council of the European Union. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
- ^ "Feasibility Study for a Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Kosovo*" (PDF). European Commission. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
- ^ a b "EU starts the Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations with Kosovo". European Commission. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
- ^ "Stabilization and Association Agreement is initialled". Ministry of European Integration of the Republic of Kosovo. 25 July 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2014.
- ^ "Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Kosovo signed". European Commission. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- ^ "Kosovo to negotiate on Stabilisation and Association Agreement". 27 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
- ^ "Stabilisation and Association Agreement negotiations successfully completed". European External Action Service. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "Kosovo Launches Crucial SAA Talks With EU". Balkan Insight. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
- ^ "Information relating to the entry into force of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and Kosovo (*), of the other part". EUR-Lex. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
- ^ "Pandering to Putin comes back to bite Serbia's Vučić". Politico. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "EU: Serbia Does Not Have to Recognize Kosovo :: Balkan Insight". Balkan Insight. 5 September 2012. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012.
- ^ "EU Commission recommends start of Serbia membership talks". Reuters. 22 April 2013. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016.
- ^ Jozwiak, Rikard (15 April 2024). "Wider Europe Briefing: Kosovo Could Finally Get In The Council Of Europe". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
- ^ "European Parliament adopts Serbia's EU progress report". Euractiv. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Serbia - European Commission". neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "SERBIA 2010 PROGRESS REPORT" (PDF). European Commission. 9 November 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "SERBIA 2012 PROGRESS REPORT" (PDF). European Commission. 10 October 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "SERBIA 2013 PROGRESS REPORT" (PDF). European Commission. 16 October 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 May 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "SERBIA 2014 PROGRESS REPORT" (PDF). European Commission. 8 October 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "SERBIA 2015 PROGRESS REPORT" (PDF). European Commission. 10 November 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 September 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Serbia 2016 Report" (PDF). European Commission. 9 November 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 January 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Serbia 2018 Report" (PDF). European Commission. 17 April 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 April 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Serbia 2019 Report" (PDF). European Commission. 29 May 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ "Serbia 2020 Report" (PDF). European Commission. Brussels: European Commission. 6 October 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Serbia Report 2021". European Commission. Brussels. 19 October 2021. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
- ^ "Serbia Report 2022". European Commission. Brussels: European Commission. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Serbia Report 2023" (PDF). European Commission. Brussels: European Commission. 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ "Serbia Report 2024". European Commission. Brussels: European Commission. 30 October 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ "Application of the revised enlargement methodology to the accession negotiations with Montenegro and Serbia". Brussels: General Secretariat of the Council. 6 May 2021. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Србија, фебруар 2024 - спољнополитичке оријентације, партнерства и лидери". Nova srpska politička misao (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Istraživanje: Građani Srbije bi na referendumu izglasali članstvo u EU". N1. 19 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "ЕВРОПСКА ОРИЈЕНТАЦИЈА ГРАЂАНА СРБИЈЕ – Представљање резултата истраживања јавног мнења". November 2006. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021.
- ^ "СТАВОВИ ГРАЂАНА О ПРОЦЕСУ ЕВРОПСКЕ ИНТЕГРАЦИЈЕ РЕПУБЛИКЕ СРБИЈЕ – Представљање резултата истраживања јавног мнења". 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021.
- ^ a b c "Info – Support for EU membership continues to decline". B92. Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Documents" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2021.
- ^ "PowerPoint Presentation" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Data" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "Data" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "Documents" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "Blic Online | Delević: Podrška građana članstvu u EU manja nego ranije". Blic. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Info – Support for Serbia's EU membership declines". B92. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "Opposition leader pleased with declining support for EU". B92. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012.
- ^ "Vesti – Koštunica: Iluzija o raju u EU". B92. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Архива Вести". SEIO. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
- ^ "ЕВРОПСКА ОРИЈЕНТАЦИЈА ГРАЂАНА СРБИЈЕ / ТРЕНДОВИ – Представљање резултата истраживања јавног мњења" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ "Data" (PDF). www.mpravde.gov.rs. 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "Info" (PDF). www.mpravde.gov.rs. 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
- ^ "Više od polovine građana Srbije za članstvo u EU". Večernje novosti. 29 January 2014. Archived from the original on 13 June 2016.
- ^ "ЕВРОПСКА ОРИЈЕНТАЦИЈА ГРАЂАНА СРБИЈЕ" (PDF). www.mpravde.gov.rs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2017.
- ^ "ЕВРОПСКА ОРИЈЕНТАЦИЈА ГРАЂАНА СРБИЈЕ" (PDF). www.mpravde.gov.rs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 September 2017.
- ^ "ЕВРОПСКА ОРИЈЕНТАЦИЈА ГРАЂАНА СРБИЈЕ" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2021.
- ^ "ЕВРОПСКА ОРИЈЕНТАЦИЈА ГРАЂАНА СРБИЈЕ" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2021.
- ^ "ЕВРОПСКА ОРИЈЕНТАЦИЈА ГРАЂАНА СРБИЈЕ" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Članstvo Srbije u EU podržava 47 odsto građana". Blic. 6 February 2017. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017.
- ^ "ЕВРОПСКА ОРИЈЕНТАЦИЈА ГРАЂАНА СРБИЈЕ" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2019.
- ^ "National documents" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
- ^ "National documents" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "National documents" (PDF). www.mei.gov.rs. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
- ^ "National documents" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 November 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "National documents" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Istraživanje Ministarstva: Za ulazak Srbije u EU 43 odsto, protiv 32 odsto". Glas Amerike (in Serbian).
- ^ "Galup: Opada poverenje građana u EU". Blic. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010.
- ^ "Poll: 61% support EU entry". B92. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012.
- ^ "Galup: Podrška opada sa približavanjem zemlje EU | EurActiv Srbija". Euractiv. 16 November 2010. Archived from the original on 1 October 2017.
- ^ "Poll: Progressive Party is pro-EU, but its voters are not". B92. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.
- ^ ""53% of respondents support EU, 13% NATO membership" - - on B92.net". Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
- ^ "Serbia: 57 percent of citizens in favor of EU membership – poll – InSerbia News". inserbia.info. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
- ^ "Serbia: Citizens dissatisfied with their life – survey – InSerbia News". inserbia.info. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
- ^ "НСПМ истраживања јавног мњења (Србија – август 2017)". nspm.rs. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
- ^ "PRVI PUT U ISTORIJI VEĆINA GRAĐANA SRBIJE PROTIV ULASKA U EU Veliko istraživanje Ipsosa: Ključni razlog za to su PRITISCI IZ BRISELA koje trpimo zbog Rusije". blic.rs. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
- ^ "Spoljno-političke orijentacije građana Srbije". demostat.rs. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ PREDSTAVLJANJE REZULTATA ISTRAŽIVANJA NSPM "SRBIJA - JESEN 2022", retrieved 1 November 2022
- ^ "Србија јануар 2023 - СНС на 39,1 одсто. За улазак Србије у ЕУ 35,5%, против 47,7%. Против санкција Русији 80,1 одсто грађана, а подржава 8,2 одсто". Nova srpska politička misao (in Serbian). 14 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Србија - пролеће 2023". Nova srpska politička misao (in Serbian). 28 April 2023. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Србија, мај 2023 – ЕУ, француско-немачки споразум и рејтинзи". Nova srpska politička misao (in Serbian). 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Србија, лето 2023". Nova srpska politička misao (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
Further reading
[edit]- Radojičić, Mirjana S. (2015). "Evropska unija i Kosovsko pitanje – međunarodno-etička perspektiva". Zbornik Radova Filozofskog Fakulteta u Prištini. 45 (1): 167–184. doi:10.5937/zrffp45-7157.
- Samardžić, Slobodan (2009). Samardžić, Slobodan (ed.). "The Kosovo-Metohija problem from the European integrations angle". Serbia in the European Union Association Process, Službeni Glasnik: 193–238.
- Jovanović Nadica; Gardašević Jovana; Vapa-Tankosić Jelena (2015). "Strategija procesa proširenja Evropske unije i društveno-ekonomski efekti integracije Republike Srbije". Poslovna Ekonomija. 9 (2): 191–212.
- Gajić, Tamara (2015). "Ulazak Srbije u EU, civilno društvo i politička kultura". Politikon. 10: 119–131.
External links
[edit]- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia
- The EU integration Office
- War crimes, conditionality and EU integration in the Western Balkans, by Vojin Dimitrijević, Florence Hartmann, Dejan Jović, Tija Memišević, edited by Judy Batt, Jelena Obradović, Chaillot Paper No. 116, June 2009, European Union Institute for Security Studies