The issue of opening cluster 3 with Serbia after progress in the rule of law and in the process of normalizing relations with Kosovo

The question of opening cluster 3 with Serbia will be taken into account after the country makes significant progress in the field of rule of law, that is, in chapters 23 and 24, as well as in the normalization process with Kosovo.

This is stated in the updated version of the draft conclusions on Serbia, which the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) member states will discuss on Friday, December 13.

In this document, the Council of the EU reminds again that Serbia's progress in the rule of law and the normalization of relations with Kosovo "will continue to determine the overall pace of the accession negotiations."

It is a package of conclusions on enlargement that should be agreed upon at the level of ambassadors and formally adopted at the meeting of ministers responsible for European affairs, which will be held on December 17 in Brussels.

"The Council accepts the Commission's assessment that Serbia maintains the level of readiness at the initial benchmarks in cluster 3 (Competitiveness and inclusive growth). The Council will return to the issue of opening cluster 3 on the basis of Serbia's significant further progress, especially in accordance with the areas (chapters 23 and 24 and dialogue with Kosovo) and in line with the negotiating framework, compared to the assessment presented in the 2024 Enlargement Report," reads the wording in the latest version of the conclusions.

Membership negotiations between Brussels and Belgrade have been frozen mainly due to the non-introduction of sanctions against Russia. Serbia has not opened a single chapter since December 2021.

Hungary, which presides over the European Union until December 31, during its mandate, initiated the possibility of opening cluster 3 for Serbia, for which the European Commission considers that the country is technically ready.

However, Hungary encountered resistance from a number of member states that, apart from the problem of harmonization with the EU's foreign policy, insist on progress in the rule of law and the implementation of agreements reached within the dialogue on the normalization of relations with Kosovo.

For any decision on the possible opening or closing of chapters or clusters in the accession process, the consent of all EU member states is necessary.