Serbia cannot achieve meaningful progress on its European Union integration path without implementing concrete reforms and restoring trust between Belgrade and EU member states, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated during a recent European Parliament session.

This position was highlighted by Tonino Picula, the European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, who addressed the AFET (Committee on Foreign Affairs) on November 4, 2026. During the meeting, Commissioner Kos presented the EU’s new enlargement package, noting that the rule of law, democracy, and merit-based criteria remain the fundamental pillars of the expansion process.

Picula, a Croatian MEP from the social-democratic group, disclosed that he specifically raised the issue of Serbia’s political landscape, which he noted has been fundamentally altered by the recent parliamentary elections. He asked Commissioner Kos whether the change in government could lead to a geopolitical shift, particularly regarding alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and relations with neighboring countries.

In response, as reported by Picula, Commissioner Kos affirmed that the EU is prepared to assist the new Serbian government in implementing necessary reforms. However, she emphasized that rebuilding the damaged trust between Serbia and the EU membership, as well as restoring the confidence of Serbian citizens in the Union, is the priority. “Without concrete reforms and the restoration of trust, there will be no real progress on the EU path,” Kos indicated.

The discussion also placed Serbia’s situation in the context of broader regional developments. Picula noted that the enlargement process has made significant strides over the past year, with Montenegro nearing the conclusion of accession negotiations and Albania approaching the closure of a negotiation cluster. Additionally, Ukraine and Moldova are expected to open new negotiation chapters. Amidst these advancements, the emphasis remains on ensuring that accession is earned through substantive democratic and legal improvements rather than political expediency.

Sources (learn more):

n1info.rs — https://n1info.rs/vesti/tonino-picula-reforme-izbori-2026-evropska-unija/