The accession of Serbia to the European Union has been on the current agenda for the future enlargement of the EU since 2012 when it became a candidate for accession. Serbia officially applied for European Union membership on 22 December 2009. Accession negotiations are ongoing.

By December 2021, 22 out of 35 chapters have been opened (including all chapters under cluster 1 on the fundamentals of the process and cluster 4 on Green agenda and sustainable connectivity), two of which are provisionally closed.

Just like other EU Member States, the Republic of Serbia strives to build a society whose key values are pluralism, tolerance, solidarity, nondiscrimination, the rule of law, and strengthening democratic institutions as a guarantee that these values will be cherished and enhanced.

The Republic of Serbia is, to an extent, already integrated in the European economic processes. Serbia wants to take its place in the EU, respecting the market economy rules and social justice and building its own capacities so that once it has joined the EU it is a prepared and competitive European economy.

The EU is strongly committed to the Western Balkans’ European integration process and there is political determination for these countries to make progress. “We are creating opportunities, finding solutions, moving forward”, it is said in Brussels, “but”. There is always 'Yes, But' idiom.

After a keynote by Ana Brnabic, Prime Minister of Serbia, the panel will debate the EU enlargement process in the Western Balkans and the next chapter for Serbia in the context of its future accession to the European Union, and will address the following main questions:

- How is Serbia evolving on its path to EU membership?
- Why is there always a ‘YES, BUT’ principle?
- What’s next for Serbia’s EU accession?
- What’s the future of the EU-Serbia relationship?

Organised by: EURACTIV Serbia
Media Partner: EURACTIV