Giaufret: Serbia’s Goal of Completing EU Accession Reforms by 2026 Is Ambitious, But Feasible

Emanuele Giaufret, Aleksandar Vucic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Serbia’s goal of completing all the preparations for European Union membership by the end of 2026 is very ambitious, but also feasible, the EU’s ambassador to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, stated in Belgrade on Dec. 11.

“It is feasible if we invest all the necessary resources and efforts. The growth plan and the reform agenda are certainly useful tools, because they are time-limited and provide financial incentives,” he said at the panel discussion titled “The Future of the European Union after the new institutional composition of the European Parliament and the Commission.”

He stated that Cluster 3 had been ready for opening since 2021. Giaufret reiterated that enlargement was a priority for the European Union, but also geopolitically imperative. “We must enlarge so that the EU becomes larger, as well as stronger. That is why we have the reforms, to make sure that the country that is joining is ready to contribute to the Union, but also be competitive on the common market,” he said.

Hungarian Ambassador to Serbia has stated that the main subject in the forthcoming period would be what can be done “regarding Cluster 3 in Serbia’s negotiations with the EU.” He added that the EU institutions had agreed that progress existed in Serbia, but that it was uncertain if all the members would think the same.