Serbia remains outside EU as Parliament demands Kosovo normalization

The European Parliament reiterated that Serbia must demonstrate genuine commitment to EU values, including rule‑of‑law reforms, democratic standards and free, fair elections, before any progress toward membership can continue. In a posted statement, it warned that “Serbia must show real commitment to EU values” and emphasized that normalising relations with Kosovo is a prerequisite for advancing accession talks. The resolution was adopted with 468 votes in favour, 116 against and 79 abstentions.

Despite France’s proposal to open Chapter 3 of the accession negotiations, eight EU member states voted against the move, arguing that Serbia’s legislative and institutional reforms remain insufficient. Serbian officials, including Foreign Minister Marko Gjurič, affirmed continued dedication to further reforms, while the European Parliament’s stance leaves Serbia outside the EU for the time being.