Hill and Giaufret: Serbia is moving toward the West

Serbia is moving toward the West, and the European Union understands the importance of expanding to the Western Balkans, said U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill and the head of the European Union delegation in Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, reports Voice of America.

During the debate 'Democratic Resilience, Rule of Law, and Economic Security: A Review of Policy Options for the Western Balkans,' Hill said there is 'no doubt' that Serbia is moving toward the West, but he also noted that in the protests against lithium mining in the Jadar Valley, he sees 'a fight against that path.'

Hill stated that among those protesting against lithium mining, 'there are many who support Russia,' adding that he is aware that public opinion polls show Serbian sympathies for Russia and frustration with the West.

"Nevertheless, I believe that Serbia can move in the right direction," the ambassador added.

He emphasized that Serbia is important as the most populous and largest country in the region.

"For the United States, direct conversation and dialogue with all countries from your region are essential," Hill said.

The head of the EU delegation in Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, stated that the EU is also a victim of numerous disinformation campaigns regarding the announced lithium mining in Serbia. He added that '10 EU countries are working on lithium projects.'

He noted that mining is not a condition for Serbia's EU membership, and pointed out that one of the disinformation claims is that the EU has allegedly 'forgotten about the rule of law in Serbia' because of lithium.

He also emphasized that the European Union is aware it must integrate new members, including the Western Balkan countries.

"A large number of EU citizens believe that the Western Balkans are ready for this," said Giaufret, adding that the European Union must now adapt to future new members.

Serbia’s Minister for European Integration, Tanja Miscevic, said that the target date for Serbia's EU membership is 2030.

She noted that the Serbian government has adopted a Draft Law on Cohesion Policy, which should soon be presented to parliament.

"This law prepares us for the time when Serbia will be able to access all European funds," Miscevic explained.

A few days earlier, Miscevic stated that the first tranche of money from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkan countries should arrive by the end of September or early October.

According to Serbia’s Ministry for European Integration, Miscevic mentioned that the European Commission has assessed that all criteria for opening Cluster 3 with Serbia have been met, and there is no reason why the EU member states would not approve it.

"We are working on the continuation and preparation of other clusters for opening, particularly Cluster 2, and we hope to present our negotiating position by the end of the year," she said.

Serbia’s accession process to the European Union (EU) began in 2009 with the submission of a formal membership application. Serbia was granted candidate status in 2012, and accession negotiations officially started in 2014.

During the process, Serbia must align its legal and institutional framework with EU standards by opening and closing negotiation chapters that cover various areas such as the rule of law, the economy, environmental protection, and human rights.

Although progress has been made in some chapters, the process requires continuous reforms, and the completion of negotiations depends on meeting all necessary conditions and the political will of EU member states.

The biggest obstacles on Serbia's path to the European Union have been highlighted as the normalization of relations with Pristina, as well as alignment with the EU's foreign and security policy, primarily seen in the imposition of sanctions on the Russian Federation due to its aggression against Ukraine.

Criticisms in Serbia's negotiation process often relate to the slow pace of reforms, especially in the areas of rule of law and media freedom, as well as political tensions, such as the issue of normalizing relations with Kosovo, which the EU has set as a key condition for progress in the negotiations.

Key chapters for Serbia's accession process include Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights) and Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom, and Security), which address the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and judicial reform.

Progress in these chapters conditions progress in all other chapters, highlighting their significance in the overall process.

So far, Serbia has opened 22 chapters, but only two have been provisionally closed.