Through Blood, Sweat and Tears Serbia could, at the earliest, enter the EU in 2018
Through Blood, Sweat and Tears Serbia could, at the earliest, enter the EU in 2018

Author(s): Željko Pantelić
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: ISAC - Centar za međunarodne i bezbednosne poslove
Keywords: European Union Accession; Serbia–EU Relations; EU Candidacy Process; Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA); Kosovo; Accession Negotiations; European Integration Timeline
Summary/Abstract: Once again, exaggeration and unrealistic expectations of the timeline for Serbia entering the EU has taken hold. Research conducted by the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID), indicating that almost half of Serbian population believes that its country will enter the EU in less than five years, reveals the painful fact that Serbian citizens understand European integration as much as they do the game of cricket. It would be easy to blame politicians only, but the fault also belongs to the media due to its lack of competency and critical skills in regards to the work of the EU. The goal of this article is to fill this gap by providing a brief insight into the steps leading towards Serbia’s fastest attainment of EU membership. In a best case scenario, without intervention of political elements that could slow the process, Serbia could not receive the status of candidate country before 2011. In fact, the earliest date for the beginning of accession talks would be in 2012, with the conclusion in 2016, which leads to the fact that Serbia could not become an EU member before 2018. Indeed, having in mind easily anticipated complications Serbia could encounter, year 2020 is the most realistic estimate.

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