Tensions flared further in December when President Vučić snubbed an EU-Western Balkans summit. Vučić, who has maintained close ties with Moscow throughout its war with Ukraine, bemoaned the sluggish pace of negotiations for EU membership.
In a joint article with his Albanian counterpart in February he said he would prefer to pursue closer economic alignment with the EU, such as joining the single market and free travel zone, rather than full political membership. Kos rejected those proposals, arguing that significant reforms would still need to be delivered to make that happen.
Then, last month, Serbia came under fire over reports of violence and irregularities during local elections, along with a police raid on a university that saw hundreds of students clash with law enforcement.
An EU official said those recent events, along with Serbia’s continued cooperation with Moscow, had proven to be a tipping point for Brussels’ relations with Belgrade and had triggered a toughening of the EU executive’s stance.
“As a candidate country, we also expect Serbia to stand with us on foreign policy and align more closely with our positions,” Kos told POLITICO, without explicitly mentioning Russia.