The member states have reportedly threatened to derail Belgrade’s bid to join the bloc
EU member states have warned Serbia that it may lose the chance to join the bloc if President Aleksandar Vucic attends World War II celebrations in Russia next month, the Financial Times and The Telegraph reported on Tuesday.
Moscow will to host a large military parade on Red Square on May 9, marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany and its allies. Vucic confirmed on Monday that he plans to attend.
EU officials told Serbia that Vucic’s trip “would breach their membership criteria,” according to The Telegraph. Serbia was granted EU candidate status in 2012.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, said on Monday that the bloc did “not want any candidate country to take part in the May 9 events in Moscow.”
“We need to ensure that they understand that certain decisions come at a cost,” Jonatan Vseviov, the chancellor of Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said. “The consequence is them not joining the European Union.” He added that the issue will be “an important litmus test.”
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze said that EU foreign ministers gave Serbian officials “very clear guidance” to skip Victory Day in Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova compared the pressure campaign to “a revival of Euro-Nazism.”
Serbia and Russia have maintained close ties since the 19th century. Belgrade has refused to send weapons to Ukraine and has criticized the EU sanctions imposed on Moscow. Vucic has emphasized the importance of friendly relations with Russia and argued that the Ukraine conflict should be resolved through diplomacy.
