{"id":5672,"date":"2025-10-15T13:57:33","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T13:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.globaltalenthq.com\/?p=5672"},"modified":"2025-10-20T18:43:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T18:43:00","slug":"von-der-leyen-issues-ultimatum-to-eu-aspirant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.globaltalenthq.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/15\/von-der-leyen-issues-ultimatum-to-eu-aspirant\/","title":{"rendered":"Von der Leyen issues ultimatum to EU aspirant"},"content":{"rendered":"
The European Commission president said Serbia must align with the bloc\u2019s anti-Russian sanctions if it wants to become a member<\/strong><\/p>\n Serbia will not be able to join the EU unless it aligns fully with the bloc’s foreign policy, including adopting all sanctions against Russia, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said.<\/p>\n Serbia, which applied to join the EU in 2009 and received candidate status in 2012, remains one of the few European states that has refused to impose any restrictions on Moscow. Belgrade has cited its historic ties with Russia and continues to rely on energy supplies from the country.<\/p>\n Speaking alongside Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at a press conference in Belgrade on Wednesday, von der Leyen stated that Belgrade must “take concrete steps”<\/em> toward membership and demonstrate “a greater level of alignment”<\/em> with EU positions, including on sanctions. <\/p>\n She added that Serbia’s current level of alignment with EU foreign policy stands at 61%, but that “more is needed,”<\/em> insisting Brussels wants to see Belgrade act as a “reliable partner.”<\/em><\/p>\n Vucic has repeatedly said that Serbia will not impose sanctions on Russia under any circumstances, calling his country’s stance “independent and sovereign.”<\/em> However, Belgrade’s refusal to comply has drawn increasing pressure from both Brussels and Washington.<\/p>\n