The European Parliament is set to pass a resolution where it expresses its regret over Serbia’s refusal to impose sanctions on Russia.
On Tuesday, March 1, the European Parliament met for an emergency session to discuss the situation in Ukraine and pass a resolution where it condemns Russia’s aggression.
According to Radio Free Europe, the resolution also features a clause that singles out Serbia’s refusal to apply sanctions to Russia.
In the resolution, the European Parliament “strongly regrets Serbia’s non-alignment with EU sanctions against Russia which damages its EU accession process and reiterates its expectation for EU accession candidates to align not only with EU acquis but also with the common foreign and security policy of the Union.”
The European Union has called repeatedly for Serbia to impose sanctions in Russia.
On Monday, European Commission spokesperson Ana Pisonero reminded Serbia of this requirement. Chief spokesperson Eric Mamer stressed that they expected “friends, neighbors and partner countries” of the union to put in place sanctions against Russia, calling this a “historic moment”.
Serbia is Russia’s closest ally in the region. In recent years, it has beefed up its military with Russian fighter jets, helicopters, tanks and other heavy weapons.
Beyond Serbia, the resolution “notes with grave concern the persistent efforts of the Russian Federation at destabilising the Western Balkans countries and interfering with their democratic processes.”
It also “denounces those who expressed support to the Russian Federation following its aggression on Ukraine and commends the support shown by those Western Balkan countries that are Euro-Atlantic allies.”
On Sunday, EU High Representative Josep Borrell expressed similar concerns that the crisis in Ukraine would spread into Moldova, Georgia, and the Western Balkans.
“We have to remain vigilant on the impact of the crisis on the Western Balkans and look what’s happening on the position…of our candidates to the European Union, their alignment with our foreign policy,” he said, hinting at Serbia.
