Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić stated at the GLOBSEC Forum in Prague that joining the European Union is a “political decision,” not a matter of merit.
“People in Europe constantly talk about a merit-based approach, using such formulations. But that has never actually been the case,” Vučić said, emphasizing that the main obstacle for Serbia’s EU path remains its unwillingness to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
“It’s about Kosovo. As you know, we adhere to the UN Charter and Resolution 1244, which states that Kosovo is part of Serbia. Twenty-two of the 27 EU member states have already recognized Kosovo’s independence, while five have not—and that is the issue. Belgrade is not ready to recognize Kosovo’s independence,” Vučić declared.
UN Security Council Resolution 1244, which Belgrade frequently refers to, ended the war in Kosovo and authorized the NATO-led peacekeeping mission KFOR to protect all citizens in Kosovo.
Serbian police and the Yugoslav army withdrew from Kosovo in the summer of 1999 after signing the Kumanovo Agreement, which also marked the end of NATO’s bombing campaign. Kosovo declared independence in 2008.
During the Prague forum, Vučić also met with EU envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Peter Sorensen. According to Vučić, they had a “substantive and constructive conversation” on the continuation of the EU-mediated talks, regional challenges, and maintaining peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
“I reiterated Serbia’s full commitment to finding compromise solutions through dialogue, with complete respect for international partners and with a clear understanding of our people’s interests. I emphasized that for the dialogue to continue, we must return to neglected foundations—such as the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities,” Vučić said.
This year’s GLOBSEC Forum is taking place as European countries reassess their role in a rapidly changing global environment.
The Western Balkans are part of the agenda, but Kosovo is not represented at the event.