Macron and Germany's Merz seek EU rule to stop member states blocking Serbia's accession

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed a new EU mechanism that would prevent individual member states from vetoing Serbia’s progress toward membership. The proposal, presented at the recent EU‑Western Balkans summit in Tirana, aims to curb opposition from countries such as Croatia, which have been alleged to use procedural blocks to hinder Serbia’s EU path. Serbian officials welcomed the move, saying it would make the accession process fairer and more predictable. The initiative reflects broader EU efforts to streamline enlargement and reduce bilateral disputes that can stall candidate countries.

The plan would make any EU decision to open a new accession “cluster” binding once the European Commission confirms that all required conditions are met, removing the ability of a single state to unilaterally delay or block the step. Croatian officials have previously demanded concessions from Serbia over historical issues, but the new rule would limit such leverage.