On Europe Day, a moment for the entire continent to celebrate peace, unity, and shared values, the National Convention on the European Union reminds us that, in recent months, numerous European actors have once again sent a clear signal: the doors of the European Union remain open to new members. There is an unequivocal political will to integrate the Western Balkans, with Serbia as a key actor, into the European family. Without Serbia, the enlargement process cannot be considered politically or strategically complete.
Yet despite this invitation, Serbia is stagnating. Albania and Montenegro, through political determination, reform efforts, and credible partnerships with the EU, are now perceived as likely to achieve membership ahead of Serbia. Serbia, by contrast, has not only failed to demonstrate readiness and credibility to open new clusters in accession negotiations, but has also deliberately weakened its reform capacity. Instead of real progress, we are witnessing a simulation of the process — one that seeks to benefit from candidate status, from access to EU funds to political and economic support, without genuine commitment to full membership. Serbia remains nominally “on the European path,” but is no longer moving toward its destination.
As the European Union takes steady and decisive steps toward Serbia, our country remains deeply divided. Every day, Serbian citizens choose to live, work, and educate their children in EU member states. Students, leaders of the values of democracy, freedom, and responsibility are symbolically marching toward European capitals, sending a clear message about where they see Serbia’s future. Meanwhile, the President of Serbia, by traveling to Moscow, sends signals that directly defy the core European values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The report on Serbia adopted this week by the European Parliament, along with statements from numerous MEPs, representatives of EU member states, and the Enlargement Commissioner, Marta Kos, clearly shows that the EU has not given up on Serbia. The EU continues to recognize and support the pro-European orientation of Serbian citizens.
That is why today, louder than ever, we must say: the responsibility for the deadlock in Serbia’s EU accession lies with domestic political actors who lack the will for Serbia to become a full and equal member of the European Union. This is not a matter of geography — Serbia already belongs to Europe. It is a matter of values, and of choosing responsibility and political maturity.
That choice is not made in Brussels or Moscow. It is made here and now – In Belgrade. In Serbia.