Starovic: Serbia supports ideas on gradual accession to the EU

Serbia actively supports ideas on gradual accession to the European Union, as they would enable earlier benefits for citizens and businesses while maintaining a clear commitment to full EU membership, Serbian Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starovic has stated.

“The Franco-German document in the form of a non-paper, which was presented practically during the summit in Tivat, represents an important step in the intensive process of dialogue and debate currently taking place in Brussels on the subject of potential changes, modifications, and improvements to the European Union’s enlargement methodology,” Starovic told Euronews Serbia.

He added that the document fully corresponds to ideas previously put forward by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

“It is entirely consistent with the ideas that Vucic and Rama presented several months earlier in a joint op-ed. All of this contributes to the ongoing debate, which is continuing,” Starovic said.

The minister specified that the non-paper envisages simplified procedures, earlier access to parts of the EU single market, and transitional arrangements regarding the use of veto powers.

“The non-paper foresees that candidate countries may join certain dimensions of the European single market even before attaining full membership in the European Union, and this is something that is beneficial. That is why we welcome it in every respect,” Starovic said.

He also commented on calls for full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, as well as remarks made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Tivat.

“I believe we made our choice and commitment many years ago. It is a matter of our strategic orientation that we declare, and work intensively toward, becoming a member of the European Union,” Minister Starovic stated.

He emphasized that Serbia does not wish to obstruct the European Union from within, but that it will not abandon beneficial cooperation with other partners while remaining in the accession process.

“Most important of all is gaining the opportunity to fully enjoy the four European freedoms: the free movement of people through accession to the Schengen framework, and the free movement of goods, capital, and services through full access to the European single market. Any proposal that brings us one step closer to achieving those four freedoms is absolutely acceptable to us and is something we welcome,” Starovic said.

The minister confirmed that Serbia is working intensively to fulfill the technical requirements.

“What we have begun doing, and I believe the establishment of the operational team has significantly contributed to this effort, is not focusing exclusively on the current moment of political stagnation, but rather working intensively to create the conditions necessary for opening Cluster 2, as well as Cluster 5,” Starovic explained.

He expressed confidence that Serbia would be technically ready by the end of June and that, once the political deadlock is resolved, the clusters would be opened quickly, possibly even simultaneously.

Regarding the formation of the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), Starovic recalled the inclusiveness of the process and called for an end to what he described as the misuse of veto rights.

“In my humble opinion, the only way to move forward, revive the process, and successfully complete it is for those who obtained, and subsequently abused, the right of veto through vetoes and empty-chair tactics to stop misusing that right,” Starovic explained.

The minister concluded that Serbia remains strategically committed to the European Union, while pursuing a pragmatic approach that delivers tangible benefits to citizens and businesses on the path toward full membership.