Meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, on Wednesday 7 May, MEPs gave their backing to the report by Tonino Picula (S&D, Croatian) on Serbia, and more specifically on its path towards accession to the European Union.
The report denounces “no overall progress” by Belgrade in several “critical” areas of reform, such as the rule of law, administration and alignment with the European common security policy (see EUROPE 13547/2).
Moreover, “Serbia systematically refuses to align itself with EU policies”, Tonino Picula recalled.
The text stresses the need for the country to make tangible progress on the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue (see EUROPE 13566/34), on which “the overall pace of the accession negotiations continues to depend”.
Despite a “complex political situation ” and “serious shortcomings” in respect for the rule of law, the text’s rapporteur, along with a number of his fellow MEPs from the centre, the Social Democrats and the EPP, reiterated their support for Serbia’s integration into the EU – albeit subject to conditions.
“Aleksandar Vučić’s regime cannot join the European Union as things stand”, insisted Helmut Brandstätter (Renew Europe, Austrian), joined by his colleague Thijs Reuten (S&D, Dutch), who believes that the “real problem” lies in the “real will of the current government to move towards the EU”.
“We must be impartial in our accession process, not neutral”, he reminded the Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, who was present in the Chamber.
As for the amendments tabled by the radical right to oppose Serbia’s future integration into the EU, they were all rejected during the vote. The report was adopted with 419 votes in favour, 113 against and 88 abstentions.
At the press conference, Tonino Picula reiterated the warning already issued by the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, regarding participation in the Russian parade on 9 May (see EUROPE 13621/5). “Someone who claims to lead a democratic country on the road to the EU cannot be at Putin’s side for his parade”, he argued.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/fl8 (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)