European Council President António Costa has criticized the trip by Serbia's president to Russia’s Victory Day parade last week.
Swing away: Flamingo Club on South Side gives kids new opportunities to play golf for freeResident displaced after fire at SE Side home, SAFD saysUpgrade your beauty routine and kitchen essentials with these Insider Deals Business European Council President Antonio Costa waves and leaves with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic after a press conference at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
European Council President Antonio Costa speaks during a press conference after talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a press conference after talks with European Council President Antonio Costa at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. European Council President Antonio Costa, left, reviews an honor guard with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic during a welcome ceremony at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. European Council President Antonio Costa waves and leaves with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic after a press conference at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. last week, but said that he received assurances that the troubled Balkan nation nonetheless will remain on the path toward European Union accession. Costa said in Belgrade — at the start of his tour of six Western Balkan membership hopefuls — that “a lot of people asked me not to come” to Serbia. But he said that he decided to come, and that he wanted to “clarify” President Aleksandar Vucic's visit to Moscow last week.Vucic, Costa said, “explained to me it was a moment to celebrate an event from the past." “We cannot rewrite the history, and fully understand that Serbia celebrates liberation” by Soviet troops, Costa said, before referring to the Russia-Ukraine war. “But we cannot celebrate the liberation 80 years ago and don’t condemn an invasion of another country today.” Now, Costa said, “we can reaffirm, and it’s important to hear from him to publicly reaffirm, that he is fully committed with the European Union and with the accession path.” Vucic, a former extreme nationalist criticized at home and abroad over alleged increasingly authoritarian ways, has maintained close relations with both Russia and China while formally saying that he wants Serbia to join the EU. Vucic has said his decision to attend Russian President Vladimir Putin's military parade marking the World War II victory over Nazi Germany, was part of efforts to maintain “traditional friendships” — Russia is a fellow Slavic and Orthodox Christian nation —while seeking EU entry. Serbia, which relies almost fully on Russia for energy, has refused to join Western sanctions on Russia over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and hasn't supported most EU statements condemning the aggression. Belgrade instead has backed a U.N. resolution criticizing Russia's attack. Vucic said that he expected “reaction and attacks” over the Moscow trip at an upcoming European Political Community summit in Albania. He pledged that Serbia will soon pass media and anti-corruption laws needed to move forward in the accession process. Serbia, he said, “sees itself now and in the future as on the EU path and as a member of the European Union.” Vucic also has been under pressure at home following six months of major anti-corruption protests that erupted after a train station tragedy in Serbia's north that killed 16 people and which many in the country blamed on graft in infrastructure construction. A group of Serbian university students — who have been a key force behind the protests — were in Brussels this week after running a relay-style marathon there to draw EU attention to their struggle for justice and the rule of law that they say has been dismantled under Vucic's tight rule in the country. From Belgrade, Costa will travel later on Tuesday to Bosnia-Herzegovina where separatist policies of a Serb-run entity's president have revived ethnic tensions long after a 1992-95 war, and stalled pro-EU reforms. Montenegro and Albania have been at the forefront of the membership path while Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo and North Macedonia are lagging behind. The EU's willingness to accept new members has grown since the all-out war in Ukraine started on Feb. 24, 2022, fearing the conflict could fuel instability in the volatile Balkans. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
Vladimir Putin Aleksandar Vucic Antonio Costa World News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
European officials condemn Russia's deadly Palm Sunday attack on Ukraine's SumyEuropean officials have condemned Russia’s deadly missile attack k on Ukraine’s Sumy that killed and wounded scores.
Read more »
European officials condemn Russia's deadly Palm Sunday attack on Ukraine's SumyEuropean officials have condemned Russia’s deadly missile attack k on Ukraine’s Sumy that killed and wounded scores.
Read more »
European court tells Serbia to 'prevent the use of sonic weapons' after protesters' claims at rallyThe European Court of Human Rights says that Serbia must prevent any potential use of sound devices for crowd control following reports that a sonic weapon was directed at peaceful demonstrators during a huge anti-government rally on March 15.
Read more »
European court tells Serbia to 'prevent the use of sonic weapons' after protesters' claims at rallyThe European Court of Human Rights says that Serbia must prevent any potential use of sound devices for crowd control following reports that a sonic weapon was directed at peaceful demonstrators during a huge anti-government rally on March 15.
Read more »
European court tells Serbia to 'prevent the use of sonic weapons' after protesters' claims at rallyThe European Court of Human Rights says that Serbia must prevent any potential use of sound devices for crowd control following reports that a sonic weapon was directed at peaceful demonstrators during a huge anti-government rally on March 15.
Read more »
European Council president says Serbia's leader has vowed to stay on the EU path despite Russia tripEuropean Council President António Costa has criticized the trip by Serbia's president to Russia’s Victory Day parade last week.
Read more »