Is Serbia Joining the EU? New Status Report Available

Currently, the European Union (EU) has 27 member countries. Other countries can join, but the process is often lengthy, with many steps.

Joining the EU (known as EU enlargement) has benefits for both the joining country as well as the union itself.

Countries can apply to enter, but they must meet a series of qualifications referred to as the Copenhagen Criteria.

Only countries that can guarantee democracy, human rights, and the protection of minorities can join, among many other requirements around the market, EU law, and adhering to the aims of the entire union.

While there is some overlap, joining the EU doesn't mean a country also joins the Schengen area. That is a whole other process and includes having a common visa policy, specific travel insurance agreements, and more.

Serbia's path to the European Union

Serbia has been working towards joining the European Union publicly since the early 2000s. Its official application, however, was submitted in 2009 and has yet to be approved.

The country continues to reaffirm its commitment to joining.

In February 2025, their government published a press release saying that European integration is a "key priority," and that their target date is the end of 2026. According to the details in this most recent report, that goal may be a bit ambitious.

A couple of months later, in April of 2025, Prime Minister Duro Macut stressed the need to accelerate reforms under the EU's Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, going as far as to say that negotiations haven't advanced to the place they had hoped they would in the past few years.

All of that said, Serbia has been hard at work meeting the requirements set by the EU, though some areas have seen more changes than others.

For example, in November 2024, bills were passed to meet the EU's standards when it comes to air and train travel, as well as water transport regulations.

Other sectors that are undergoing similar legislative updates include information, culture, science, and education.

“We are strongly committed to our European future,” Vučević said in February 2025. “This government will continue pushing for reforms in the judiciary, anti-corruption frameworks, and media freedom to meet EU standards.”

Is Serbia in the EU?

The EU's Serbia 2025 Report

In November of 2025, the European Commission released its annual Serbia Progress Report.

This progress report informs the public about Serbia's progress towards meeting the requirements to join the European Union.

The assessment is over 100 pages in length, covering everything from political and legislative criteria to economic ones.

A large portion of the report focuses on Serbia's adherence to the EU's foreign policy, noting that there needs to be more alignment. According to the document, this is one of the areas stunting Serbia's continued progress towards accession.

"Serbia needs, as a matter of priority, to make additional efforts to further align its foreign policy with the EU CFSP."

The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) alignment, according to this most recent progress report, shows 63% alignment, which has increased year over year (59% in 2024).

While there is a lot of focus on foreign policy, the report highlights several other areas that need adjustments/improvements in order for Serbia to move forward. These include:

• Judicial independence
• Freedom of expression and media regulation
• Civil society
• Public administration
• Migration and asylum systems
• And more

What is preventing Serbia from joining the EU?

Will Serbia join the EU in 2026?

While Serbia itself has set the end of 2026 as a target goal, that doesn't mean it's set in stone, nor that it will get approval.

If the EU feels as though the candidate (country) is ready to join (i.e., it meets the Copenhagen Requirements, etc.), a treaty will be written up and presented.

After that, the treaty must be approved by the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the European Council.

It doesn't end there.

Each and every current European Union member must sign and ratify the treaty, approving the joining country.

However - Serbia is in a rather unique position, as the European Union has designed a special process for the Western Balkans (Which includes Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, and North Macedonia)

This process is called the stabilisation and association process, or SAP for short.

Qualifying Balkan countries receive financial support, easy access to EU markets, and help in cooperation between existing members.

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