European Union's pressure on Serbia is increasing, due to Belgrade's refusal to support sanctions against Russia, European diplomats say. 

From the time when Russia started the invasion of Ukraine in February, the EU has clearly expressed its expectations that the countries of the Western Balkans, which aim to integrate into the EU, will support the positions of this bloc, including the sanctions against Russia, because of Ukraine's invasion. 

Serbia, until now, has ignored these calls and this, it seems, has increased the anger of some EU member states. 

As a result, say some diplomatic sources in Brussels, "the negotiation process of Serbia's membership in the EU is practically frozen." 

This is proven by the fact that, for more than a year, Serbia has not opened or closed any chapter in the negotiation process. For their opening or closing, the agreement of all EU member states is required. And, some countries, diplomats say, "do not want Serbia to be rewarded with the continuation of the EU membership process, as if nothing had happened". 

Even the European Parliament, through a resolution on the new enlargement strategy, has requested that Serbia's membership negotiations in the EU be conditional on the support of sanctions against Russia. 

The pressure is expected to increase during the month of December, when a summit of the EU and the countries of the Western Balkans will be held in Tirana. 

In the statement expected to be adopted there, the call for support for sanctions against Russia will be repeated. 

In the draft statement seen by Radio Free Europe, no country is mentioned by name, but it is believed to be about Serbia, which has not yet supported the European Union's sanctions against Russia. 

"As we deepen our cooperation with partners, we ask them to make rapid and significant progress towards full alignment with the common foreign and security policy, as well as to act in accordance with this, including with the restrictive measures of the EU", says the draft statement that is expected to be approved at the December 6 summit. 

Serbia at that summit, the diplomats warn, "will be more or less isolated, as it is the only participating state that has not imposed sanctions on Russia". 

The disappointment of some EU countries with Serbia is expected to be even clearer in some conclusions that will be approved for the enlargement and stabilization-association process, on December 13, by the EU General Affairs Council. 

According to the draft of the conclusions that the EU countries have prepared, it is expected to express "deep concern" for the "backward step" that Serbia has made in adapting its positions to those of the EU, as far as political issues are concerned. external and security. 

In the draft conclusions, the EU expresses "strong expectations" from Serbia to fulfill the obligations received within the framework of negotiations with the EU, as well as to strengthen its adaptation to EU policy, including sanctions against Russia. 

It is also expected that this EU Council will welcome the fact that the new Government of Serbia has defined EU integration as a strategic goal, but that it will be required that this be followed up with concrete actions. 

"Especially in the context of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine, the Council expects Serbia to demonstrate unwavering commitment to the EU and commit to our common principles and values," the draft conclusions state. 

According to diplomatic sources, the European Union does not intend to take formal steps to suspend membership negotiations with Serbia, but is aware that negotiations are unlikely to continue until Serbia joins Western sanctions against Russia. 

From Serbia, the EU countries also expect that it will not allow the circumvention of sanctions against Russia through its territory. 

Serbia has been negotiating EU membership for years, but at the same time cooperates with Russia in several areas, including defense. 

(Source: Radio Free Europe)