The European Union has reiterated its call on Serbia, as a candidate country for membership, to align its foreign policy stance with that of the EU, and to avoid steps that contradict these stances.

According to EU diplomats, this request is especially relevant regarding positions towards Russia, against which the EU continues to impose sanctions due to the war in Ukraine, while Serbia continues to cultivate friendly relations with Russia, REL reports.

An EU spokesperson, referring to the recent visit of Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric to Moscow and his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, said that the EU has taken steps to isolate Russia, has reduced contacts to a minimum, and is also preparing a new package of sanctions, therefore it expects Serbia as a candidate country not to take steps against this European Union policy.

"Serbia, as a candidate country, should increase its efforts to align with EU foreign policy as a matter of high priority. It should therefore refrain from actions or statements that go against EU foreign policy positions," an EU spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, diplomats from several member states have said that, in addition to the lack of progress in the process of normalizing relations with Kosovo, rule of law issues, Serbia's close cooperation with Russia has the effect of preventing the opening of several negotiation chapters in the process of Serbia's EU membership negotiations, even though Serbia, according to the European Commission, has met the technical conditions for this.