Serbia and Kosovo have both declared their intention to join the EU. However, despite some initial successes, such as the Brussels Agreement of 2013, the dialogue facilitated by the EU and initiated in 2011 has stalled. The reasons for the very limited results are multiple, ranging from the internal political situation in both countries, to ambiguous and asymmetrical expectations of the normalisation agreement. Currently, the most sensitive issue, the setting-up of the association/community of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, agreed in 2013, shows that the challenges are rooted deeply in history and have a much broader regional context.

EPRS podcast - Policy: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue: The rocky road towards a comprehensive normalisation agreement

The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

In March 2012 Serbia was granted EU candidate status.

On 19 April 2013, after ten rounds of often grueling talks in the EU-facilitated Dialogue in Brussels, the intervenants reached a landmark agreement aimed at normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Concrete results in the implementation of this agreement will bring about a brighter future and lasting stability to the region. In line with the decision of the European Council in June 2013 to open accession negotiations with Serbia, the Council adopted in December 2013 the negotiating framework and agreed to hold the 1st Intergovernmental Conference with Serbia in January 2014. On 21 January 2014, the 1st Intergovernmental Conference took place, signaling the formal start of Serbia’s accession negotiations.

EU - Serbia

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Ana BRNABIĆ, Serbian Speaker of Serbia

Delegation to the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association  Parliamentary Committee Constitutive meeting

EP Plenary session - Voting session

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements- Situation in Serbia following elections

Delegation to the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee Ordinary meeting

AFET -  Exchange of views on the recent developments between Serbia and Kosovo

Press conference on the 2022 Commission Reports on Kosovo and Serbia

EP Plenary session - 2022 Report on Serbia

MEPs vote on the following topics: New wave of mass arrests in Belarus of opposition activists and their family members; Increased number of executions in Iran, in particular the case of Mohammad Ghobadlou; Recent attacks on Christmas Eve in Plateau State in Nigeria; Automated data exchange for police cooperation (“Prüm II”); The EU priorities for the 68th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women; Situation in Serbia following elections; Implementation report on the EU LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2020-2025; Association agreements for the participation of third countries in Union programmes; Multilateral negotiations in view of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, 26-29 February 2024; Russiagate: allegations of Russian interference in the democratic processes of the European Union; and Further repression against the democratic forces in Venezuela: attacks on presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado.

Voting time

EP President, Roberta METSOLA, participates to the EU-Western Balkans Summit. Before her address to the Council, she speaks to the press. One year after the 2022 summit in Tirana, EU and Western Balkans leaders met in Brussels for their fourth annual summit. The summit is an opportunity to reaffirm the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans and also the need for partners’ sustained and irreversible reform achievements, underpinned by EU values and principles.

EU-Western Balkans Summit: Doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

MEPs vote on the following motions for resolution: Recent developments in the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, including the situation in the northern municipalities in Kosovo; The despicable terrorist attacks of Hamas against Israel.

Voting session, including the motion for resolution on the despicable terrorist attacks of Hamas against Israel

MEPs debate the accession of Serbia to EU sanctions against Russia and welcome Kosovo's application for membership. Closing statements by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2022 Report on Serbia: closing statements by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

MEPs debate the accession of Serbia to EU sanctions against Russia and welcome Kosovo's application for membership. Opening statements by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

2022 Report on Serbia: opening statements by Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK), Rapporteur and by Olivér VÁRHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Roberta METSOLA, EP President gives her opening statement on recent mass shootings in Serbia and Minute of silence, ahead of the Plenary Session in Strasbourg. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Resumption of session and order of business: introductory statements by Roberta METSOLA, EP President, on mass shootings in Serbia and Minute of silence

Closing statements of the MEPs debate on the official start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania last July and to call on the EU to grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo. They are also likely to urge Serbia to align with the EU’s restrictive measures and policy towards Russia. Opening statements by Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package: closing statement by Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

MEPs debate on the official start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania last July and to call on the EU to grant visa liberalisation to Kosovo. They are also likely to urge Serbia to align with the EU’s restrictive measures and policy towards Russia.

EU - Serbia (T)

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