Serbia must choose between East and West — EU
As it pursues EU membership, Serbia now faces a strategic choice between Western values and its traditional pro-Russian course, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said during a visit to Belgrade on May 22.
“Serbia faces a strategic, geostrategic choice, where it wants to be,” Kallas said.
“Serbia’s European future depends on the values it chooses to uphold.”
She referred to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s recent trip to Moscow, where he participated in the May 9 military parade, and openly expressed her disapproval of the move.
“I really don’t understand why it is necessary to stand side by side with the person who is conducting this horrible war in Ukraine,” she said.
“And President Vucic was explaining his side of the story. So, yes, we had a very extensive discussion about this.”
Despite mixed policy signals from Belgrade, Kallas said Serbian authorities continue to affirm their commitment to EU membership. However, she noted that the EU expects concrete actions to back these declarations.
“Reforms are how Serbia will advance along its EU path,” She added.
“There are no shortcuts for membership. Real progress must be made here in Belgrade.”
Vučić, along with leaders from 29 countries, attended the May 9 parade in Moscow. After the event, Ukraine’s foreign ministry issued a demarche to diplomats from those states whose leaders were present.
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