Serbia risks losing 1.5 billion euros from EU funds due to its proximity to Russia

Serbia is facing the risk of losing up to 1.5 billion euros from European Union funds allocated for reforms and accession preparations, due to its close ties with Russia, according to POLITICO.

The accession negotiations, which began in 2014, are now threatened by an increasingly critical stance from officials in Brussels. The European Commission has intensified pressure on Belgrade, and a possible suspension of payments would further complicate the EU's enlargement process. Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, has expressed concerns about undermining the independence of the judiciary system in Serbia, the repression of protesters, and interference in independent media. Despite these challenges, Danijel Apostolović, Serbia's ambassador to the EU, stated that he is optimistic that funding will not be suspended and that Serbia will not give up its status as a full EU member.