Serbia and Kosovo have both declared their intention to join the EU. However, despite some initial successes, such as the Brussels Agreement of 2013, the dialogue facilitated by the EU and initiated in 2011 has stalled. The reasons for the very limited results are multiple, ranging from the internal political situation in both countries, to ambiguous and asymmetrical expectations of the normalisation agreement. Currently, the most sensitive issue, the setting-up of the association/community of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo, agreed in 2013, shows that the challenges are rooted deeply in history and have a much broader regional context.

EPRS podcast - Policy: Belgrade-Pristina dialogue: The rocky road towards a comprehensive normalisation agreement

The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

In March 2012 Serbia was granted EU candidate status.

On 19 April 2013, after ten rounds of often grueling talks in the EU-facilitated Dialogue in Brussels, the intervenants reached a landmark agreement aimed at normalising relations between Serbia and Kosovo. Concrete results in the implementation of this agreement will bring about a brighter future and lasting stability to the region. In line with the decision of the European Council in June 2013 to open accession negotiations with Serbia, the Council adopted in December 2013 the negotiating framework and agreed to hold the 1st Intergovernmental Conference with Serbia in January 2014. On 21 January 2014, the 1st Intergovernmental Conference took place, signaling the formal start of Serbia’s accession negotiations.

EU - Serbia

EP Plenary session - Polarisation and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Ana BRNABIĆ, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia

EP Plenary session - Wave of violence and continuous use of force against protesters in Serbia

Press conference on Serbia: Political attacks and ongoing protests

Press conference on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Kosovo and on Serbia

EP Plenary session - EP Plenary Session.2023 and 2024 reports on Serbia

AFET Working group on Western Balkans  - Exchange of views with Marta Kos, Commissioner for Enlargement on the state of play of the enlargement process with regard to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia

16th Meeting of the EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Parliamentary Committee - Voting session

MEPs vote on the following files: Gozi (A10-0177/2025) - Institutional consequences of the EU enlargement negotiations; Polarization and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy; and on Situation in Belarus, five years after the fraudulent presidential elections.

Voting Session on motions for resolutions on EU enlargement negotioations, situations in Serbia and Belarus

On Friday 5th of September, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić referred to Greens/EFA MEP Rasmus Nordqvist and European Green Party co-chair Vula Tsetsi as ‘scum’ and threatened to prosecute them. This press conference followed their call in Belgrade for free and fair elections in Serbia amid the use of violence against ongoing anti-government protests. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Bas EICKHOUT (Greens/EFA, NL), co-chair and Rasmus NORDQVIST (Greens/EFA, DK) on Serbia - Political attacks and ongoing protests

Riho TERRAS (EPP, ET) and Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), Rapporteurs, hold a press conference on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Kosovo and on Serbia. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Riho TERRAS (EPP, ET) and Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), Rapporteurs, on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Kosovo and on Serbia

Votes on the following reports: Mureşan, Tavares (A10-0076/2025) - A revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world; Bajada (A10-0073/2025) - The European Water Resilience Strategy; Sánchez Amor (A10-0067/2025) - 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Türkiye; Picula (A10-0072/2025) - 2023 and 2024 reports on Serbia; and Terras (A10-0075/2025) - 2023 and 2024 reports on Kosovo

Votes on reports

MEPs and representatives from the Commission and the Polish Council Presidency assess developments in Serbia, where the collapse of a railway station canopy has sparked an anti-corruption movement and student-led protests against the government. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Political crisis in Serbia: Closing statements by Marta KOS, European Commissioner for Enlargement and by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs

MEPs and representatives from the Commission and the Polish Council Presidency assess developments in Serbia, where the collapse of a railway station canopy has sparked an anti-corruption movement and student-led protests against the government.

Political crisis in Serbia: MEPs debate

Political crisis in Serbia: Opening statements by Adam SZŁAPKA, Polish Minister for European Affairs and by Marta KOS, European Commissioner for Enlargement

Karlo Ressler (LIBE A10-0027/2024) - EU/Republic of Serbia agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia

EU/Republic of Serbia agreement on operational activities carried out by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency in the Republic of Serbia: Voting session

EU - Serbia (T)

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