At least five European Union member states have blocked Serbia from opening Cluster 3 of its membership negotiations in July 2026, citing persistent concerns over the rule of law and foreign policy alignment.
The Netherlands, Sweden, and three Baltic nations led the opposition, while Croatia added a condition demanding justice for the September 2023 terrorist attack in Banjska, Kosovo.
A high-level Serbian delegation traveled to Brussels on Friday to present its recent reform agenda and advocate for advancement, pointing out that technical benchmarks had been met since 2021.
National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabić expressed frustration with the delays, stating that Serbia has been technically ready for Cluster 3 since 2021.
“We have been very, very frustrated with the lack of opening of Cluster 3, for which we have been technically ready since 2021.
Serbia has again listened to the criticism and tried to change the way in which we approach reforms,” said Brnabić.
She noted that Belgrade adopted 23 laws in 2026 to support integration, including measures targeting electoral environments and anti-corruption frameworks developed alongside international bodies.
“So all of the things that we have actually achieved during 2026 – and there have been many – are more or less really the result of our new approach of how not just to plan reforms or talk endlessly about reforms, but actually to implement reforms and do the work,” Brnabić pointed out.
The package specifically addressed areas previously flagged as major structural deficiencies by European partners.
“Those five laws are tackling the issue that was most criticised by the EU partners, the European Commission, but also by individual member states,” noted Brnabić.
Regarding alignment with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy, Brnabić defended Belgrade's decision not to sanction Russia by highlighting its balanced stance on regional sovereignty.
“We do not see this as mutually competing interests,” she said.
Serbian Finance Minister Siniša Mali emphasized that domestic investments would continue regardless of European financial integration incentives.
“No matter if someone is considering Serbia as one of the Western Balkans laggards, it will continue working on its strategy,” said Mali.
Mali also highlighted the scale of material assistance Belgrade has extended to Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict.
“More than 90% of all of the support to Ukraine coming from the Western Balkans came from Serbia,” he added.
Despite these arguments, diplomatic opposition remains firm as member states prioritize foundational democratic criteria over geopolitical compromises.
