Political relations between Serbia and the EU

Full membership in the European Union represents a key strategic goal of the Republic of Serbia, which respects and upholds the values and principles upon which the EU is founded. Accession negotiations with the European Union provide impetus for implementing crucial reforms in all areas covered by the membership criteria and the EU acquis. Meeting the membership criteria is not only an obligation within the negotiation process, but primarily a path toward improving the quality of life and well-being of our citizens. 
In this process, unequivocal political will and the capacities of our administration are essential, and the EU’s financial and technical support is also of significant importance. Moreover, the European Union is the most important trade and investment partner of the Republic of Serbia and a major factor in the country’s economic stability.
Following the political changes in 2000, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia officially participated in the first EU – Western Balkans Summit, held on November 24, 2000, in Zagreb. This summit laid the solid foundation for the enlargement policy, which was further reinforced at the Thessaloniki Summit in June 2003, attended by the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro (SCG). In Thessaloniki, the European perspective of the Western Balkans was reaffirmed, and the importance of the Stabilisation and Association Process was emphasized. In April 2005, SCG received a positive assessment of the Feasibility Study – the European Commission’s report on SCG’s readiness to begin negotiations on a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the EU.
After the dissolution of the State Union of SCG, Serbia continued the negotiations and signed the SAA on April 29, 2008. The agreement entered into force on September 1, 2013, with the Interim Trade Agreement being applied in the meantime. Another important step in Serbia–EU relations was the signing of the Visa Facilitation Agreement and the Readmission Agreement in November 2007, followed by the introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU in December 2009.
The Republic of Serbia officially submitted its application for EU membership on December 22, 2009. After responding to the European Commission's questionnaire and receiving a positive opinion on its candidacy in 2011, the European Council decided on March 1, 2012, to grant Serbia candidate status. Since 2011, the European Union has also served as a mediator in the Dialogue on the normalization of relations with Pristina.
On April 22, 2013, the European Commission recommended opening accession negotiations with Serbia, and on June 28, 2013, the European Council decided that negotiations should begin no later than January 2014. The start of the accession negotiations between the Republic of Serbia and the European Union was marked by the first Intergovernmental Conference held on January 21, 2014, in Brussels.
So far, a total of thirteen intergovernmental conferences have been held within the negotiation process, during which 22 negotiation chapters have been opened, two of which have been provisionally closed. Within the framework of the revised accession negotiation methodology, defined in 2020, two negotiation clusters have been opened.
Serbia and the European Union continuously maintain regular and dynamic political and technical dialogue, which forms the foundation of their mutual relations. The nature and structure of accession negotiations require constant contact and the exchange of information, opinions, and guidelines, including at the highest levels. In addition to regular institutional communication, meetings between the highest representatives of the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament with the highest Serbian officials are of key importance. These meetings serve as platforms for open exchanges of views, evaluation of progress made, discussions on possible challenges, and the definition of common priorities.