According to Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS), citing diplomatic sources in Brussels, EU member states have again failed to reach an agreement on opening Cluster 3 in accession negotiations with Serbia.
Even the third meeting at the ambassadorial level on this issue did not yield the necessary consensus. Hungary, currently holding the EU presidency, announced that the debate on this matter would continue next week. Time is running out, as the intergovernmental conference to open the cluster, if it takes place, is expected to be held between December 16 and 20.
Diplomatic sources indicate that member states’ positions have not significantly changed compared to previous discussions.
Opposition from some Member States
At the last meeting, seven countries—including the Baltic and Scandinavian states, the Netherlands, and Croatia—rejected Hungary’s proposal to initiate the procedure for opening Cluster 3.
The main reasons cited for opposition were:
Serbia’s lack of alignment with the EU’s foreign policy and sanctions against Russia,Unclear geopolitical orientation of Belgrade,Issues concerning the rule of law,Relations with Pristina.Support for opening the cluster
Countries in favour of opening the cluster argue that the European Commission’s assessment—that Serbia has met the technical criteria—should be accepted. They believe this step would send a positive signal to the region and bring Serbia closer to the EU. Some nations have warned that they may not support steps for other countries if no agreement is reached on Serbia.
Non-paper and planned steps
Diplomatic sources reveal that Serbia had submitted a “non-paper” to member states before the previous debate, outlining steps it intends to take in the short term to encourage a decision on opening Cluster 3.
Among the proposed actions for early December are:
Initiating the procedure to appoint a new REM (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media) council,Revising the electoral roll in line with ODIHR recommendations,Introducing visas for third countries in accordance with EU visa policy,Ensuring full operational readiness of the gas interconnector with Bulgaria.
According to RTS sources, the next debate on opening Cluster 3 could take place on December 11. Time is running out, as the intergovernmental conference to open the cluster is planned for the week between December 16 and 20.
Alternative scenarios
There is speculation in diplomatic circles about holding a “political” intergovernmental conference, where delegations from Serbia and the EU would exchange political messages, while the opening of the cluster would be postponed to the first quarter of next year.
Slow progress
Serbia’s last step in the accession process was in December 2021. Currently, the focus is on Cluster 3, “Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth,” which comprises eight chapters. Five of these were opened under the previous methodology before clusters were introduced.
The pending chapters include:
Chapter 10 – Information Society and Media,Chapter 16 – Taxation,Chapter 19 – Social Policy and Employment.A predictable outcome
As the weekly Vreme reported, this outcome was anticipated as early as 10 days ago, when news leaked from Brussels suggesting slim chances for opening Cluster 3 in Serbia-EU negotiations.
The reasons cited included concerns from certain EU members about Serbia’s relations with Russia, lack of progress in rule of law, media freedom, and dialogue with Kosovo. Some states also demanded accountability for the attack in Banjska in September 2023.
(Vreme, 05.12.2024)
RTS: U Evropskoj uniji bez saglasnosti o otvaranju klastera 3 sa Srbijom
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Publish date : 2024-12-04 16:00:00
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