Ursula von der Leyen to visit Serbia during October election campaign

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Serbia in October as part of a multi-day tour of the Western Balkans. This visit is anticipated to coincide with the Serbian election campaign, should elections be held around October 25.

During her previous visit, von der Leyen emphasized the need for Serbia to take concrete steps toward EU accession, specifically regarding the rule of law, electronic media, and electoral laws. She urged the Serbian leadership to demonstrate progress through action rather than words.

As von der Leyen approaches the latter half of her second term, she faces several strategic challenges. These include managing EU enlargement for countries in the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Moldova, revitalizing European industry to compete with the US and China, and addressing the climate crisis and regional security.