EU leaders say Serbia must enact reforms to open accession talks; Vučić affirms EU path at Tivat summit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a press conference after the EU‑Western Balkans summit in Tivat that the European Union wants Serbia to become a member, but the country must fulfil a set of reforms. The required changes include the judiciary, the Rule‑of‑Law monitoring mechanism, the electoral law and full alignment with EU foreign policy. European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU will assess Serbia’s judicial reforms and, together with the European Council, decide whether to open the third accession cluster.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, speaking at the same summit, reiterated that Serbia is on the path to EU membership and described it as the country's strategic goal. He praised the respectful treatment Serbia received from EU leaders and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and security.

Serbian parliamentary speaker Ana Brnabić later criticised the lack of explanation for the return of 87 Serbian citizens from Tivat airport, suggesting the incident was intended to undermine Vučić’s participation at the summit.