European Union officials are acutely aware of the challenges posed by the Serbian government and President Aleksandar Vučić. While they do not view him favorably, they refrain from criticism until they believe he cannot weather the current political storm, according to Florian Biber, a professor from the University of Graz, in an interview with “Vijesti.”

Discussing the Serbian President’s meeting with leading EU officials in Brussels on Tuesday, Biber remarked that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s comments following the meeting were fairly mild, although it appeared Vučić received more pointed messages privately.

Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa stated on Tuesday evening that Serbia’s future is aligned with the EU, contingent upon Belgrade’s progress in areas like media freedoms, combating corruption, and electoral reforms.

Both leaders announced on the X platform that they had held an “important meeting” with Vučić in Brussels.

Biber assessed that, at present, there is no clear indication that the EU’s position towards Serbia has shifted.

“Key EU officials recognize the challenges presented by Vučić’s government and harbor no enthusiasm for him. However, they are unwilling to jeopardize their relationship with him or issue criticisms until they believe he cannot withstand the political turmoil,” Biber explained.

He emphasized that there are no signs that the EU is prepared to play an active role in mediating the political situation in Serbia, in contrast to their engagement in North Macedonia and other regions.

When asked about the EU’s perception of the ongoing protests in Serbia, Biber indicated that Brussels is being extremely cautious, primarily due to concerns about endangering relations with Vučić, known for his adverse reactions to criticism.

“On one hand, they perceive a lack of political alternatives, given the absence of a strong opposition. On the other hand, they are less inclined to confront issues of democracy and the rule of law than in previous years, mainly due to their focus on geopolitical concerns,” Biber stated.

“Some may prefer the status quo for business reasons or out of fear regarding the uncertainty brought about by the protests,” he added.

After a working dinner, Vučić expressed to Serbian journalists that he was “very satisfied” with his discussions with top EU officials, asserting that the meeting “holds significant importance for Serbia’s future,” with the outcomes expected to be visible soon.

“The conversation was warm, substantive, open, responsible, and serious. We covered various topics, with Serbia’s European aspirations at the forefront. I assured them of our commitment to that goal, even more so than before, and mentioned that a decision on forming a new government or calling new elections would be forthcoming,” he said.

He noted that discussions included the regional political climate, emphasizing the necessity for stability and peace, alongside addressing “the actions Serbia must undertake in the realm of rule of law to advance the opening of remaining clusters in the EU accession process.”

Vučić stated that Serbia aims to open clusters 2 and 3 by year-end and make swift advancements towards EU membership, while also acknowledging the significant work required within the country.

“I believe there will be significant progress in the next month regarding laws on voter lists, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), and media legislation, as this serves the interests of everyone in our country,” he said.

He further informed the media that the government did not deploy the so-called sound cannon during protests on March 15, asserting that it “has nothing to hide” and remains “fully open to examination from all angles.”

Following the meeting with Vučić, Von der Leyen and Costa reiterated on the X platform that Serbia needs to implement reforms crucial for its EU aspirations, particularly in the fields of media freedom, anti-corruption measures, and its electoral system.

Last week, approximately thirty members of the European Parliament urged Von der Leyen to reconsider the scheduled meeting with Vučić, advocating for a clear message insisting that Serbia requires a transitional government.

The anticipated meeting of the Commission head with Vučić “conveys a troubling signal given the depth and severity of Serbia’s political crisis,” according to a letter addressed to von der Leyen, signed by MEPs from the Greens, Obnovimo, the Left, and the Social Democrats.

The letter posits that the EU’s credibility in the Western Balkans has significantly eroded over the past decade, and it is unsurprising that EU flags are absent from protests in Serbia, considering the multitude of broken promises and the Union’s support for stabilocracy at the expense of democratic norms. MEPs concluded that the citizens of Serbia deserve a resolute message from Brussels affirming EU solidarity in their struggle for rule of law, democracy, and accountability.

Former diplomat Srećko Đukić described Vučić’s meeting with Von der Leyen and Costa as a “great masquerade” likely leading to heightened disappointment among Serbian citizens regarding the EU.

In comments to the Beta agency, he remarked that Vučić “once again sold the European Union a piece of cake,” suggesting that the meeting served Vučić’s interests more than those of the EU.

“Von der Leyen and Costa took no action to challenge Vučić. He even claimed that two clusters would open by year-end, despite this being contingent upon the agreement of all EU members,” said the former diplomat.

In his opinion, Vučić came away from Brussels with increased support for a renewed term.

When queried about how the dialogue between Von der Leyen and Vučić should have unfolded if the EU viewed Serbia as part of the European family, Đukić stressed that the EU no longer seems capable of engaging constructively with Vučić or most leaders in the Western Balkans.

MEP Gordan Bosanac argued that the reception of President Vučić by two EU leaders amid a deep national crisis represents a unique embarrassment for him rather than an honor.

Bosanac told N1 that it was evident the letter sent to Ursula von der Leyen by 32 MEPs, including himself, prior to the meeting influenced European institutions and led to a firmer stance towards Vučić.

The Croatian Green MP highlighted that one outcome of the letter was to contextualize Vučić’s Brussels visit amid significant changes unfolding in Serbia.

He noted that the European Commission’s stance towards Vučić is currently being reevaluated, as reflected in Von der Leyen’s messages.

“One recalls Von der Leyen’s earlier misguided remarks in Belgrade when she presented the Growth Plan, stating to Vučić, ‘President, your actions align with your words,’ extolling him as a paragon of European integration. My question for Von der Leyen is how such a champion could falter so shortly after,” Bosanac inquired.

Serbian citizens hope that EU officials will publicly affirm their commitment to no longer overlook violations of rights and disparagement of freedoms. This would benefit both the Union’s credibility and its relationship with Serbian citizens, suggested Srđan Majstorović, President of the Board of Directors of the Center for European Policies.

Responding to Vučić’s meeting with Von der Leyen and Costa, Majstorović remarked on X that Serbian citizens have long felt betrayed due to the EU officials’ disinterest in the real state of democracy in Serbia and their preference for “political stability” over shared democratic principles.

“Citizens advocating for the fulfillment of student demands following the tragic loss of 16 lives due to corruption do not hold overly optimistic expectations… They hope for senior EU representatives to publicly voice what they are likely conveying privately in closed-door discussions, namely, that they will cease to ignore the disrespect for the rights and freedoms of Serbian citizens,” Majstorović noted.

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