Fico: I Supported Serbia, EU Still Inventing New Conditions for EU Integration

Brussels, 18 December (TASR-correspondent) - Although Serbia is among the best-prepared countries, more and more conditions are still being devised for it to join the European Union, said Slovak Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) following the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels on Wednesday (17 December). "I in particular supported Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who deliberately didn't attend this summit in order to express his protest against the unfair treatment of Serbia by EU institutions," said Fico. According to Fico, Serbia is a sovereign country and its president is a sovereign politician, which isn't tolerated much in the EU. "Double standards are a typical feature of European politics. On the one hand, the big boys are pushing Ukraine into the EU, even though it's absolutely unprepared; and on the other, they're preventing Serbia from joining the Union because it's too proud, self-confident and sovereign. Aleksandar Vucic and the Serbs will always enjoy my support," stressed the Slovak premier. The future of the Western Balkans is in the European Union, EU leaders agreed at the summit held with the countries of the region on Wednesday, stressing the need for even closer ties between the two sides amid Russia's war against Ukraine and growing geopolitical challenges. Summits of members of the European Council and the leaders of the Western Balkan countries have been held on a regular basis since 2018. The previous summit took place in Brussels in December 2024, and the next one is scheduled for Montenegro in June 2026. The EU-enlargement issue will also be high on the agenda of the EU 27 summit on Thursday. ko/df