Serbia Moving Toward Opening Cluster 3 With the EU, Gunther Fehlinger Opposes It: Brussels Should Not Reward Obstruction

The European Commission is expected to send EU member states a written recommendation assessing that Serbia has met the conditions for opening Cluster 3 in its membership negotiations. According to reliable sources in Brussels cited by RFE/RL, it will be proposed that this group of chapters be opened during July.

This development comes at a delicate political moment, as relations between Belgrade and Kosovo remain tense, while Serbia’s foreign policy approach toward Russia continues to raise doubts in Brussels.

For this reason, the question arises as to whether Serbia’s progress in the negotiation process is in line with the criteria and values that guide EU membership, and what signal this step sends to other countries in the region seeking European integration.

It was precisely on this issue that Austrian expert and chairman of the Austrian Committee for NATO Expansion, Gunther Fehlinger, spoke in a statement to “Bota sot”.

He criticized the European Union’s approach and its decision regarding Serbia’s accession process, warning that such a move undermines the credibility of the EU’s enlargement policy.

“The European Union should immediately suspend any further progress in Serbia’s accession negotiations. Opening Cluster 3 at this moment would reward obstruction instead of reforms and would undermine the credibility of the EU enlargement process.”

Fehlinger stressed that the European Commission should tie any further step by Serbia in this process to recognition of Kosovo.

He also listed a series of other conditions that, in his view, Belgrade must fulfill.

“I call on the European Council to make any further progress in Serbia’s accession negotiations conditional on Serbia’s prior recognition of the Republic of Kosovo and then on meeting these conditions:

• Recognize the Republic of Kosovo and establish normal diplomatic relations.

• Fully implement all commitments undertaken within the framework of the Brussels and Ohrid Agreements.

• Fully align its policy 100% with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, including sanctions against Russia.

• End any political, financial and security support for destabilizing structures in northern Kosovo.

• Fully cooperate in bringing to justice those responsible for the attack in Banjska.

• Stop inflammatory nationalist rhetoric and threats against neighboring countries.

• End strategic military and security cooperation with Russia, which is incompatible with EU foreign policy.

• Reduce excessive dependence on China in strategic infrastructure and security sectors.

• Strengthen judicial independence and the rule of law in line with EU standards.

• Guarantee genuine media freedom and improve protection for independent journalists.

• Ensure free and fair elections in line with international democratic standards.

• Fight corruption and organized crime through measurable reforms that are independently verified.

• Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all neighboring states, including Kosovo.

• End policies that contribute to regional instability and actively support reconciliation throughout the Western Balkans.

• Demonstrate a sustained commitment to European values through concrete actions and not just statements.”

In conclusion, the Austrian expert said that without recognition of Kosovo and without meeting all of these criteria, no new negotiation chapter should be opened for Serbia.

According to Fehlinger, the European Union should value reforms and democracy, not obstruction and nationalism.

“The European Union must restore the principle that enlargement is merit-based and not driven by geopolitical accommodation. Until Serbia recognizes Kosovo and demonstrates sustained compliance with these conditions, no new negotiation cluster should be opened.

Europe must reward reforms, democracy, peace and alignment with European values — not obstruction, nationalism and strategic ambiguity,” Gunther Fehlinger concluded for “Bota sot”.