The European Commission is expected to submit a written recommendation to the member states of the European Union, assessing that Serbia has met the conditions to open Cluster 3 within the framework of its EU accession negotiations. Reliable sources in Brussels have confirmed to Radio Free Europe that the proposal will be for this group of negotiating chapters to be opened during July.
Cluster 3 is considered an important segment on Serbia’s integration path toward the EU. Known as “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth,” it includes key areas such as digital transformation, economic and monetary policy, taxation, education and culture, science and research, as well as issues related to employment and social policies.
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However, the final word does not belong to the European Commission. Opening this cluster requires the unanimous approval of all European Union member states, which will review the recommendation in the coming days.
Although the European Commission has given a positive signal, some member states had earlier expressed reservations about Serbia’s progress in the negotiations, calling for more tangible steps in democratic reforms, as well as progress in normalizing relations with Kosovo.
As a result, it still remains unclear whether the proposal will secure the unanimous support of the member states and whether Cluster 3 will be opened this month.
Lama: As far as relations with Kosovo are concerned, Serbia remains destabilizing, but it is clear that the EU is using both the ‘stick’ and the ‘carrot’ with Serbia
Former ambassador Alma Lama told “Bota sot” that the recommendation to open Chapter 3 of the negotiations with Serbia is related to internal reforms and not to Kosovo.
According to her, although Serbia appears to have fulfilled some formal criteria, it still remains far from alignment with the EU’s foreign policy, especially because of its pro-Russian stance.
“First of all, Serbia is part of the European Union membership process. The third chapter that the Commission has recommended to be opened is not linked to Kosovo, but to internal reforms in Serbia, such as the judiciary, the media and the legal framework for elections, and formally it appears to have met the criteria. As far as alignment with the EU’s foreign policy regarding Ukraine and Russia is concerned, Serbia remains far behind and is the only country in the region that maintains a pro-Russian stance,” she said.
Lama further assessed that Serbia continues to play a destabilizing role toward Kosovo, but stressed that the European Union is simultaneously using both pressure and incentives in its approach to Belgrade.
“As far as relations with Kosovo are concerned, Serbia remains destabilizing, but it is clear that the EU is using both the stick and the carrot with Serbia. The opening of negotiating chapters is a process that must be approved by all EU states, therefore this is not a done deal, while proof of the rule of law comes after the opening of the chapters, when the criteria must be fulfilled rigorously,” she stressed.
Arifi: Nevertheless, it is up to Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to do its job so that we are not caught by surprise
Along the same lines, former ambassador Avni Arifi said that although the European Commission has proposed opening Cluster 3, it remains difficult for this proposal to receive the support of all EU member states. He also called for greater engagement from Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.
“It is true that the Commission has proposed opening Cluster 3 as a result of some reforms that the Serbian state has made in the field of media freedom, certain laws, as well as cooperation in foreign policy. However, this proposal is unlikely to receive the support of the member states, precisely taking into account the reasons you have mentioned.
As long as terrorists with bloodied hands continue to walk the streets of Belgrade, it is hard to believe that EU countries will agree. Nevertheless, it is up to Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to do its job so that we are not caught by surprise,” he told “Bota sot”.
