On a visit to Belgrade on Tuesday 13 May, despite the criticism of dozens of MEPs (see EUROPE 13638/21), the President of the European Council, António Costa, reiterated European support for Serbia’s efforts to join the EU - despite the presence of Aleksandar Vučić in Moscow during the military parade on 9 May.
The President of the European Council spoke of the “positive momentum within the EU for enlargement”, which represents a “clear opportunity that Serbia must seize”.
But, he insisted, “full alignment with the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and [...] clear condemnation of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine is crucial”.
“About my trip to Moscow, it’s clear that we were celebrating the victory over fascism. I announced it to everyone, I did not deceive anyone”, Mr Vučić explained.
At the same time, in Brussels, a group of 21 Serbian student protesters taking part in an ultramarathon covering almost 2,000 kilometres from Novi Sad in Serbia had just arrived and were greeted by several MEPs and European officials.
They presented a list of demands in which they called for the release of students imprisoned after the demonstrations, an increase in the education budget and the holding of early elections.
“Through this race, we want to show that we are ready to take literally any action necessary to establish justice, the rule of law and democracy in our country”, they declared. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)