Serbia pushes for EU progress in Brussels, highlighting reforms and readiness for Cluster 3

Serbia sent a high-level delegation to Brussels on Friday to present its reform agenda and recent progress on key policy areas, with officials stressing the country’s readiness to advance on its EU accession path.

Speaking at a press event, Ana Brnabić, Speaker of Serbia’s National Assembly, expressed frustration over the delayed opening of Cluster 3 (Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth), noting that Serbia has been technically ready since 2021.

“We have been very, very frustrated with the lack of opening of Cluster 3, for which we have been technically ready since 2021. Serbia has again listened to the criticism and tried to change the way in which we approach reforms,” Brnabić said.

Cluster 3 – Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth is one of the six thematic clusters in EU accession negotiations and groups eight chapters focused on economic modernisation, taxation, social policy, education, science, digital transformation, customs union, and enterprise/industrial policy.

She explained that benchmarks for opening all three remaining chapters in Cluster 3 were met in December 2024, but the process was postponed pending further progress, particularly on the rule of law and the normalisation of relations with Kosovo.

Brnabić emphasised that many of the achievements in 2026 resulted from a new, more implementation-focused approach rather than endless planning.

“So all of the things that we have actually achieved during 2026 – and there have been many – are more or less really the result of our new approach of how not just to plan reforms or talk endlessly about reforms, but actually to implement reforms and do the work,” she pointed out.

The Speaker reminded the audience that Serbia’s National Assembly adopted 23 laws in 2026 directly supporting EU integration. Of these, 14 relate to the adoption and application of the European acquis or the Growth Plan agreed with EU partners. Four address rule of law issues, including the full implementation of OSCE recommendations to improve the electoral environment. Another five were adopted in cooperation with the Venice Commission.

“Those five laws are tackling the issue that was most criticised by the EU partners, the European Commission, but also by individual member states,” Brnabić noted.

She added that Serbia is also working with the OSCE on further legislation to fight corruption.

“When we are done with this, we have basically addressed all of the other recommendations — and this has been done for the first time ever in Serbia,” she assured.

Marko Đurić, Serbian Foreign Minister, stressed the importance of advancing Serbia’s EU path in the current geopolitical context.

“It’s high time for Serbia to advance on its path. Opening new chapters would incentivise the government and society to reinvigorate our reform efforts. You could also create institutional momentum, which means that Serbia, sooner rather than later, will become a member – which is obvious. But in this geopolitical moment, actually including Serbia and streamlining the accession process means consolidating and strengthening Europe’s southeastern flank,” Đurić told EUalive.

When asked about obstacles to opening Cluster 3, he pointed to the 27 EU member states and their differing priorities, but expressed hope that no one is currently blocking progress and that developments could be visible as early as this month.

Siniša Mali, Serbian Finance Minister, underlined that Serbia will continue investing in infrastructure, healthcare, the green agenda, and other areas to improve living standards and converge with EU standards — with or without additional EU support.

“No matter if someone is considering Serbia as one of the Western Balkans laggards, it will continue working on its strategy,” Mali said.

He added that political reforms are well underway and expressed hope that the EU will recognise Serbia’s progress by opening at least Cluster 3.

On the sensitive issue of foreign policy alignment, Brnabić noted that Serbia has voted alongside its EU partners to condemn Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and currently stands at 63% alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

She highlighted Serbia’s balanced position, pointing out that Ukraine is one of the few countries that has never recognised Kosovo’s independence, while Serbia respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including Crimea.

“We do not see this as mutually competing interests,” Brnabić said, adding that full alignment – including potential sanctions on Russia – would depend on the EU’s willingness to accelerate the process.

“More than 90% of all of the support to Ukraine coming from the Western Balkans came from Serbia,” Finance Minister Mali added during the discussion.

The Serbian officials used the Brussels event to send a clear message: Serbia is committed to the EU path, has delivered tangible reforms, and is ready for the next step. Whether the EU institutions will respond positively remains to be seen.

Caption: (L-R) Ana Brnabić, Marko Đurić. European integration minister Nemanja Starović and Siniša Mali [Photo: Momchil Indzov].