Starovic: Merz’s letter showed that the need to change the enlargement methodology has been recognized

Serbia’s Minister for European Integration, Nemanja Starovic, stated today that the letter from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in which he proposes privileged access to the single European market and closer ties with European institutions in the day-to-day decision-making process for the Western Balkans and Moldova, shows that everyone has recognized the need to change the EU enlargement methodology, RTV reported.

Starovic assessed that no one can be completely satisfied with the content of the letter, but that it is important that the issue is being discussed.

“The very fact that we have this debate, and that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has joined it, shows that everyone has recognized the need to change the EU enlargement methodology, and that in itself is good. If we look at the content, of course no one can be overly satisfied. Ultimately, even the Ukrainians themselves are not satisfied, as they may see this proposal as a downgrade from the full membership they expected and that many had promised them, to a kind of associate membership. Specifically, we in the Western Balkans cannot be satisfied either,” Starovic told Pink TV.

The minister stated that he firmly believes that before the end of this year the ongoing debate will result in a new methodology that will be better for Serbia than the current one.

“I firmly believe that sometime during this year, and certainly before the end of 2026, this debate will result in the concept of some new methodology that will certainly be better for us compared to the existing one. It is clear to everyone that the enlargement system can no longer function this way, where membership itself is set as a moving target,” Starovic said.

According to him, it is important that on the path toward membership Serbia gains concrete benefits for its citizens and economy.

“It is important that we have some principle of gradualism, step-by-step progress, meaning that on the road to membership we gain concrete benefits for our citizens and our economy, and that is what President Vucic insists on when he speaks about the need to fully achieve the four European freedoms,” Starovic said.

The minister emphasized that during the summit in Skopje he pointed out that there is no longer any sense in delaying the abolition of roaming charges for the Western Balkans, especially after accession to the roaming-free zone was approved for Ukraine and Moldova.