European External Action Service spokesperson Peter Stano said on Monday 5 February that Belgrade’s decision to strengthen its ties with Moscow through a new health contract during the war of aggression against Ukraine was “not compatible with the values of the EU”.
“The European Union has been very clear with its partners: relations with Russia cannot proceed as usual with Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine”, Mr Stano told EUROPE.
“The European Union wants to count on all candidate countries as reliable European partners for shared principles, values, security and prosperity”, he added.
Last December, in EU Council conclusions, the EU27 had already reaffirmed that they “expect Serbia to redouble its efforts to align itself fully with the EU’s common foreign and security policy positions and restrictive measures, including with regard to Russia and Belarus, as a matter of the highest priority”.
On 30 January, Serbia and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding under which the two countries will cooperate and Belgrade will be able to learn from practices used in the Russian healthcare system, particularly in terms of organisation and administration. In addition, a Russian delegation is due to be sent to Serbia to exchange experience and best practice in the field of health and technology. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)