European Commission on Serbia: Recommendations remain valid, Cluster 3 technically ready for opening

The recommendations of the European Commission from previous years remain valid, and Serbia has met the criteria for opening Cluster 3 (competitiveness and inclusive growth), which is technically ready to be opened, according to the draft version of the EC’s 2025 Enlargement Policy Report.

04.11.2025. 12:24

European Commission on Serbia: Recommendations remain valid, Cluster 3 technically ready for opening
Foto: Envato

In the draft document “On the EU Enlargement Policy for 2025”, seen by Tanjug and expected to be presented by European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos to members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, it is noted that certain progress has been made in the areas of economic criteria, the right of establishment and freedom to provide services, movement of capital, financial services, energy, environment, fisheries, taxation, digital transformation, and trans-European networks.

The draft document recalls that since the start of Serbia’s EU accession negotiations in January 2014, the country has opened 22 out of 35 chapters, including all chapters within Cluster 1 (fundamentals) and Cluster 4 (green agenda and sustainable connectivity), while two chapters have been provisionally closed.

Meeting Serbia’s EU accession goals requires strong political will, a whole-of-society approach, effective policy planning and coordination, along with sufficient human and financial resources for EU accession across all involved institutions.

The draft also states that an anti-EU narrative is evident not only in Serbian media but is also used by political officeholders, including those at the highest levels. The Serbian authorities are urged to take much greater responsibility for proactive and objective communication about the EU accession process, as well as for “combating disinformation and manipulation of information.”

It is further noted that the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1st , 2024 — which resulted in 16 deaths — triggered mass students and citizen protests and nationwide blockades over alleged corruption and lack of accountability and transparency at the government level, accompanied by reports of excessive use of force against demonstrators.

The incident and its aftermath have further deepened polarization in Serbian society, the draft report says, adding that protests are still ongoing.

The report, which will be presented soon, covers the period from September 1st , 2024, to September 1st , 2025, and is based on contributions from various sources, including EU member state governments, European Parliament reports, and information from various international and non-governmental organizations.

It also includes results from comparative assessments and indices developed by other stakeholders, particularly in the area of the rule of law.

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