Slovak President Pellegrini Reaffirms Strong Support for Serbia's EU Accession in Belgrade

Slovakia Reaffirms Commitment to Serbia's European Path

Slovak President Peter Pellegrini met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Sunday, December 21, 2025, to reaffirm Slovakia's steadfast support for Serbia's ambition to join the European Union. The meeting, part of Pellegrini's official two-day visit to Serbia, underscored the strong bilateral ties between the two nations and addressed the complexities of the EU enlargement process.

Criticism of EU Enlargement Delays

During a joint press conference, President Pellegrini emphasized that Slovakia would 'always support Serbia on its path to the European Union' and asserted that Serbia has 'the full right to become its member' provided it meets the necessary conditions. He voiced strong criticism regarding the EU's handling of the enlargement process, stating that the Union was 'gambling with the trust of the people of Western Balkans' and engaging in 'political games' by introducing 'illogical conditions' and delaying the opening of negotiation clusters for Serbia. Pellegrini warned that continued 'not always fair approaches' by the EU could lead citizens in the region to lose interest in membership, a development he believes would weaken the EU's long-term security and credibility. He also highlighted Serbia's crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in the Western Balkans.

Serbia Expresses Gratitude for Unwavering Support

President Vucic expressed profound gratitude to President Pellegrini and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico for their 'sincere, unequivocal, and courageous' support for Serbia's European aspirations, especially 'at a time when such positions are not easy to voice.' Vucic also thanked Slovakia for consistently respecting Serbia's territorial integrity, international public law, and the United Nations Charter. He noted that Serbia had been ready to open Cluster 3 of its accession negotiations four years prior, but 'something would always arise, the goalposts would move' since the conflict in Ukraine began. Vucic underscored the deep-rooted friendly relations between Serbia and Slovakia, referring to the Slovak people as 'sisters and brothers.'

Broadening Bilateral Cooperation

Beyond EU accession, the two presidents discussed a range of bilateral issues aimed at strengthening cooperation. Key areas of discussion included:

• Further enhancing economic ties.
• Expanding military-technical cooperation and collaboration between their defense industries.
• Cooperation on energy issues, including the involvement of Slovak companies in renewable energy projects and sharing Slovakia's expertise in nuclear energy.
• The position and welfare of the Slovak community in Serbia.

President Pellegrini extended an invitation to President Vucic for an official visit to Slovakia. In a gesture of goodwill and support for the Slovak minority, President Vucic announced that Serbia would finance the construction of a 'Slovak House' in Novi Sad, an investment estimated at 6 to 7 million euros.