Serbia could face the loss of up to €1.5 billion in European
funding as the European Commission assesses concerns over
democratic backsliding and Belgrade’s continued alignment with
Moscow, AzerNEWS reports via Politico.
According to officials, the Commission is increasingly concerned
developments in Serbia, including legislation seen as undermining
judicial independence, pressure on protesters, and repeated
interference in independent media.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos told Politico
that Brussels is reviewing whether Serbia still meets the
conditions required to receive funding under EU financial
instruments available to candidate countries.
“We are becoming increasingly worried about what is happening in
Serbia,” she said, pointing to a pattern of anti-democratic
measures and governance concerns.
Another key issue is Serbia’s reluctance to align its foreign
policy with the EU, particularly regarding Russia. Belgrade,
traditionally seen as a close partner of Moscow in the Balkans, has
also seen senior officials make openly anti-European
statements.
Tensions were further highlighted in December 2025, when Serbian
President Aleksandar Vučić skipped an EU-Western Balkans summit,
criticizing the slow pace of Serbia’s accession process.
In February, Vučić co-authored an article suggesting Serbia
could prioritize closer economic cooperation with the EU over full
membership. In response, Kos emphasized that significant reforms
would still be required for Serbia to access the EU single market
and benefit from visa-free travel.
Discussions within the European Commission on potentially
suspending funding have intensified in recent weeks, according to
multiple EU officials speaking anonymously. A forthcoming opinion
by the Venice Commission on controversial judicial reforms —
expected by the end of April — could play a decisive role in
triggering such a move.
Serbia’s EU ambassador and chief negotiator, Danijel
Apostolović, expressed confidence that funding would not be
suspended, reiterating Belgrade’s commitment to EU membership and
willingness to consider the Venice Commission’s
recommendations.
The EU remains Serbia’s largest financial supporter. Between
2021 and 2024, the country received more than €586 million in
grants, alongside an additional €1.5 billion made available
conditional on reforms.