EU warns Serbia: "Decide your future, hesitation is not an option"

The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Serbia to clarify its future direction, emphasizing that a policy of hesitation between Russia, China, and the European Union is not an option. The statements were made on Friday in Tivat, Montenegro, after the EU-Western Balkans summit, where European leaders discussed with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Merz reaffirmed that the path to the EU remains open for Serbia, but it must take responsibility. Vucic confirmed that Serbia's strategic objective is EU membership, but acknowledged the need for significant reforms. Although Serbia has a population of 6.6 million, less than half support EU membership, and Vucic has maintained close ties with Russia and China, recently signing contracts with Beijing and participating in events in Russia.