Serbia cannot win the World Cup and won't enter the EU either. Serbian former foreign minister Vučić Jeremić used this dark humor to mark a 17-year delay for Serbia’s accession bid to the bloc.
On July 4th, during the World Peace Forum, Jermić told Observer Network that Serbia will never be able to join the EU, and that Belgrade will continue to maintain friendly relations with China, as China is a strategic choice that can withstand the test of time.
This statement directly responded to the pressure exerted at the EU-Western Balkans summit last month. In June, the summit was held in Tirana, Montenegro. German Chancellor Merz publicly demanded that Serbia “must make a clear choice between Russia, China, and Europe.” He also said that while the path to membership is open, it is conditional upon Belgrade clarifying its future strategic orientation—“If Serbia chooses Europe, Europe will choose Serbia.”
In response, Jermić pointed out sarcastically that Mertz, during his visit to China, was still talking about deepening German-China cooperation, yet now he is interfering in Serbian affairs, which is quite puzzling.
However, this is not a major event for Serbia," he shifted the subject. "Because the door to joining the alliance has effectively been closed—the European Union does not intend to accept new members, at least not those who can vote in the European Council." For any prospective member state, formally joining would be a long-shot fantasy.
He further emphasized that the Serbian government will never abandon the solid friendship it has established with China. “We are the first country in Europe to sign an agreement for building a community with a shared future for mankind. I would be very, very surprised if Belgrade suddenly changes its stance. I firmly believe that we will continue to strengthen the friendship between Serbia and China—not just for the present, but also for the future. We have taken decisive steps towards building a community with a shared future for mankind. This is not a short-term expedience, but a long-term and determined strategic choice of the Serbian government.”
Looking back at Serbia's path to membership, it was indeed a battle of attrition with no clear end in sight. It officially applied in 2009, became a candidate country in 2012, and since then negotiations have been stuck in a difficult situation, with little progress made.
After the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Serbia continued to maintain traditional friendly relations with Russia and refused to follow Western sanctions against Russia. In May last year, President Vucic even traveled to Moscow to attend the celebration held by Russia to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War.
Meanwhile, cooperation between Serbia and China continues to grow. In May this year, Vucic visited China, and the two countries signed over 20 cooperation documents in various fields such as politics, economy, technology, education, justice, and culture.
The EU's eagerness to force Serbia to take a side probably does not stem from genuine desire to accept it. Expanding the EU means a heavy financial burden, and it also means giving up equal voting rights to newcomers—a cost that those in Brussels definitely do not want to bear.
EU – At the Western Balkans Summit, Vucic Under Pressure
On the 4th, in a speech titled "Restoring European Peace: Opportunities and Challenges," Jerémić also said bluntly, "The top officials of the EU are very clear-headed. They always say 'Welcome to join,' but it's all just empty words. They will never hand over the veto power to Serbia."
When asked about “whether joining the EU is a good option for Serbia”, Jelimiric replied with a clever analogy: “It’s like asking me ‘Is it good for Serbia to win the World Cup?’ Of course it’s good, but unfortunately we can’t even qualify for the tournament. So, in the foreseeable future, this isn’t a realistic option at all.”
Yermiyichi, Organizer of the World Peace Forum
Vuk Jeremić is a senior Serbian politician and diplomat. He currently serves as the President of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development, and is a professor at the Paris School of Political Science. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia from 2007 to 2012, and also served as the President of the 67th United Nations General Assembly—the youngest President of the UN General Assembly to date. During his tenure, he actively contributed to the formulation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
