Vucic: No major EU enlargement should be expected in the coming years

Speaking today at the opening of the Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of EU Candidate Countries, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that no miracles or significant enlargement of the European Union should be expected in the coming years, stressing, however, that it is important for candidate countries to cooperate and support one another.

"The idea that we should not be competitors on the European path, but partners, is absolutely right and a wonderful aspiration. However, here in the Western Balkans, that has proven difficult. Unfortunately, we in the Western Balkans have always been divided, doing what others told us to do, instead of understanding that the way we cooperate with one another is more important than anything else. That is why we have always given others the opportunity to set us against each other," Vucic said, adding that his own approach differs.

He noted that he is not optimistic about the prospect of any candidate country joining the EU in the near future.

"I do not believe the European Union will be in a position to make enlargement decisions over the next several years. That does not mean, however, that we should not continue advancing swiftly on our European path and implementing important reforms. For us, this means considering both the benefits we can derive from the European path and the benefits Europe can gain from us. I believe it would make little sense for Serbia to become an EU member while North Macedonia or Bosnia and Herzegovina remain outside the Union," Vucic underlined.

He pointed out that the region still lacks the free movement of people, capital, services and goods, making it logical that such freedoms cannot yet fully exist between the region and the European Union.

"When I proposed that we all become part of a common market, it made perfect sense, because a Serb from Banja Luka or Bijeljina eagerly awaits the day when he can travel to Belgrade without border complications, just as a Bosniak from Novi Pazar wants to travel freely to Sarajevo. We once lived in the same country, yet we have still not managed to overcome all the divisions inherited from the 1990s. More important than anything else is mutual respect and understanding. It is equally important that we establish every possible form of cooperation with other countries pursuing the European path. For me, it is particularly significant that we enjoy excellent cooperation with Moldova, Georgia and, of course, Ukraine, so that we can continue developing bilateral relations while learning from one another throughout the accession process," Vucic explained.

He added that he did not agree with Speaker Stefanchuk's assessment that Stalin represented a greater evil than Hitler, noting that for the Serbian people Hitler has always symbolized the ultimate evil. At the same time, he agreed that candidate countries should be partners rather than competitors.

"Together, we can achieve a great deal. We can strengthen relations among our countries and should never underestimate ourselves. Eighteen years ago, when we signed the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, we worried whether we would even open accession chapters and negotiations. In the meantime, however, we have learned to rely on ourselves, to work, to grow and develop more rapidly, and to compete successfully with those who once seemed far ahead of us. We have also learned that we can build strong economic cooperation with countries beyond the European Union. Nevertheless, there is no path more successful or more beneficial for us than the European path," the Serbian President emphasized.

He reiterated that no major enlargement should be expected in the coming years, but said that the new proposals put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz could nevertheless bring tangible benefits by placing the process on more rational and realistic foundations and helping identify common ground.

"I believe we can assist one another and make meaningful contributions in every possible way. We are fully aware of how difficult the situation remains in Ukraine, and we wish your country peace. We hope that circumstances will soon allow outstanding issues to be resolved through negotiations. Ukraine has demonstrated not only remarkable resilience, but also that Europe stands to benefit greatly from its contribution—not only in military terms, but above all through its economy and human potential. As for Serbia, whenever we have been asked whether we would object if Ukraine were to progress towards EU membership faster than we have, our answer has always been no. We believe Ukraine has the capacity to make a significant contribution to Europe's future development and progress, and Serbia will always support it, as it will all other candidate countries," Vucic concluded.

Stefanchuk: Every Country That Wants and Deserves EU Membership Should Join the Union

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk stated that every country that aspires to and deserves EU membership should become part of the Union.
Stefanchuk welcomed the fact that the idea first discussed in Copenhagen of establishing an informal mechanism for cooperation among speakers of parliament had now taken on a clear and concrete form.

He expressed particular gratitude to the Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly for being the first to respond positively to his proposal to host today's meeting, as well as to the President of Serbia for his support.

"I would like to thank all of you, Speakers of Parliament, for supporting Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and independence. Each of us knows the price of Russia's dictatorship and of its bloody predecessor—the KGB-style communist Soviet Union. Moldova and Georgia know this well. The Balkans know it well too, because both the Soviet Union and Russia have always applied the principle of 'divide and rule'. They have used, and continue to use, political terror and economic coercion. They have sown, and continue to sow, hostility among states and peoples. The cost is measured in human suffering. Therefore, today I want to say clearly that Serbs are not 'little Russians', Ukrainians are not 'little Russians', and Moldovans and Georgians are neither, nor will they ever be, Russia's younger brothers. Enough humiliation. We are independent states inhabited by European peoples. One day, we will all become members of the European Union," Stefanchuk said.

He added that Russia continues cynically to devastate Ukraine through increasingly intense attacks while civilians continue to suffer in Odesa, Kharkiv and other cities.

"Today, before all of you, I appeal for your political, military and humanitarian support on behalf of the Ukrainian people in order to restore justice and establish a just and lasting peace. You may not possess the air defence systems that are of vital importance to us, but you do possess memory, conscience and dignity," Stefanchuk said.

According to him, the idea of cooperation on the path towards EU membership was born in Copenhagen and should culminate in completing Europe's historic reunification.

"I firmly believe that every country that wants and deserves membership should become part of the European Union. As President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, Europe can only be truly strong and genuinely peaceful when no European remains outside it and when its peoples are prepared to stand up for the destiny of every nation. I believe that Europe has unjustifiably slowed the enlargement process. It has now been thirteen years since Croatia joined the European Union. An incomplete reunification of Europe sends the wrong message not only to those who aspire to membership but also to third parties interested in weakening Europe—above all, aggressive, dictatorial and anti-European Russia. That is why the next wave of enlargement must be as broad and as strong as possible in order to complete the creation of a united and indivisible Europe," Stefanchuk stated.

He wished every candidate country success on its path towards EU membership.

"On this path, we are not competitors but partners. Ukraine is ready to be your reliable partner and devoted friend. That is why I came to Belgrade today—to say this sincerely and openly. Ukraine continues to fight and deeply appreciates your assistance and support, and I am confident that it will prevail in the struggle for our shared values, for freedom and for our common European future," Stefanchuk said.

Brnabic: We Are Laying New Foundations for Cooperation Among EU Candidate Countries

Opening the conference, Speaker of the National Assembly of Serbia Ana Brnabic said that the gathering in Belgrade marks the beginning of an entirely new framework for cooperation among EU candidate countries.

"This is the first time that Speakers of Parliament of candidate countries have jointly launched an initiative to establish a regular format for cooperation. It is a clear signal of political maturity and of our readiness to build genuine partnership among ourselves. This initiative did not emerge by chance. It is the result of long-standing dialogue and the conviction that parliaments have a responsibility to play a more active role in fostering cooperation among candidate countries," Brnabic said at the conference held at the Palace of Serbia.

She noted that the initiative had been launched jointly by the parliaments of Serbia and Ukraine.

"Our countries are at different stages of the accession process and face different challenges. We have not come together because we are the same, but because we believe we can support one another, learn from one another and exchange experiences. Parliaments are the primary forums for democratic dialogue and political accountability, where reforms receive democratic legitimacy. Without strong parliaments there can be no strong institutions, and without strong institutions there can be no successful European path," Brnabic explained.

She stressed that the common objective of all participants is to establish lasting cooperation, hold regular meetings and launch joint initiatives.

"We want to build a permanent network of cooperation. This conference will have fulfilled its purpose if, after these two days, we can demonstrate that we have laid the foundations for enduring cooperation among the parliaments of EU candidate countries. Belgrade will then be remembered as the place where the first step towards lasting partnership and regional cooperation was taken," Brnabic concluded.