Brussels satisfied with Belgrade's position on the situation in Ukraine

We are in daily contact with the Serbian authorities, bearing in mind that Serbia is an important factor in the region

Photo: Tanjug/AP

We welcome the clear move made by Serbia by voting in favor of the UN (General Assembly) resolution on aggression against Ukraine, an EU official in Brussels, involved in the preparations for the summit of EU leaders in Versailles where the main topic will be the situation in Ukraine, has told RTS.

"President Aleksandar Vucic took a clear position by accepting the UN resolution. We are in daily contact with the Serbian authorities, bearing in mind that Serbia is an important factor in the region and that the situation in Ukraine is constantly changing," said the EU official, when asked whether Serbia's decision not to join sanctions against Russia could negatively affect its EU accession process.

Diplomatic sources in Brussels say that the Western Balkans will be "part of the leaders' debate on the European response to the request of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia for accelerated accession to the EU."

Diplomats expect EU leaders to offer Ukraine various forms of partnership, including possible membership, but without a fast track or "immediate" accession to the EU.

EU officials estimate that the Balkan countries, which have been "stuck" for a long time in the accession process, would not approve of the accelerated track for some other countries.

"Member states seeking a quick accession of the Western Balkans to the EU will refer to the new situation in Europe. This may give new impetus to accession of the Western Balkans, but those (member states) who insist on meeting the criteria will continue to do so regardless of the new geopolitical reality," said EU sources.

Ahead of the summit of EU leaders in Versailles at the end of this week, diplomatic circles are again talking more and more about Europe in several speeds or "circles" of integration.

"Decisions on enlargement are not only a matter of geopolitics or solidarity with Ukraine, but also a sensitive issue of EU's internal organization, and member states have different views on that," diplomatic sources have said, as reported by RTS.

(Telegraf.rs)