Accession of Serbia to the European Union

BELGRADE - The year 2025, mentioned in the EU's Western Balkans enlargement strategy as the potential accession date for Serbia, is no guarantee, but it is an encouragement for the citizens and a recognition that we have done significant things, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Wednesday.

BELGRADE - For the first time, Serbia has been "given an indicative timeframe" for EU accession, EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said in Belgrade on Wednesday, a day after the European Commission released its Western Balkans enlargement strategy.

BELGRADE - Serbia's chief EU negotiator Tanja Miscevic said Wednesday Serbia must complete the EU accession process in 2023 to be able to meet the timeframe for potential accession in 2025.

BELGRADE - Serbian European Integration Minister Jadranka Joksimovic said Tuesday the EU's enlargement strategy for the Western Balkans clearly stated Chapter 35 on Kosovo in Serbia's accession talks would be the last to be closed and that it was assumed that a legally binding agreement with Pristina would come at the very end of the process.

In an editorial, citied by Sputnik, the Financial Times also said that the EU should not "step back" - otherwise Russia and Turkey would "fill the gap."

STRASBOURG - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Tuesday 2025 was not the year when Serbia and Montenegro "must" be in the EU, but an indicative date and encouragement for the countries that had made the most progress on the EU path.

BELGRADE - The fact that 2025 is being mentioned as the year of Serbia's potential EU accession does not mean it will actually happen if Serbia fails to meet the requirements from the negotiation framework with EU member states, which clearly outlines its roadmap to the EU, says Vladimir Medjak of the European Movement in Serbia.

The EU commissioner spoke at a conference in Belgrade, adding that this document would not mean recognition (of Kosovo by Serbia) - and that the EU "has no solution prepared in advance" but that instead, "everything depends on the outcome of the (Belgrade-Pristina) dialogue."

"The paper is completely empty," Hahn said.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said this, adding that it was true "not only in political terms, but also in other segments of development , such as social and economic."

EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn is on Wednesday visiting Belgrade and will meet separately with President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.

Media will be addressed after both meetings.