My comment for Anadolu Agency: Disagreements between EU member that marked 1st year of Russia-Ukraine war

 A country between EU membership and Russia: Serbia

Serbia attracted attention as a country that seeks to be part of the EU but also rejects to be part of the sanctions imposed against Russia. It raised the question of what will be Serbia's next move to get out of this tight situation.

Dilek Kutuk, a Balkans expert and a PhD candidate in Istanbul Medeniyet University, argued that Serbia is stuck between two sides.

"Choosing sides is not an issue for Serbia. Or, it does not see itself as stuck between the EU and Russia.

"After the wars in the Balkans in the early 2000s, while democratization and development movements in the Balkans were at the highest level with the support of the EU, Serbia's relations with Russia were not as good as today. Because at that time, the 'ideal of Europeanness' was the first priority of the people and politics," Kutuk opined.

She, however, said the problems which Europe and the global order have faced over the years and changing balances "caused the EU to compromise its values and principles."

"It was delayed in adapting to new developments, especially 'emerging powers' and 'multipolar powers.' In addition, the fact that alternatives should be produced economically helped the Balkan countries to get closer to different countries.

"For this reason, we have been discussing the presence of Russia in the Balkans and especially in Serbia in recent years," she said, adding that the "enthusiasm for EU membership," as in the early 2000s, is "not observed in the public or in politics as much as before."

Kutuk stressed that it is "not easy" for Europe, which is facing pandemics, natural disasters, wars in Ukraine and Syria, refugees and xenophobia, populism, and democratic and economic crises, to reform the process for accession to the bloc.

"Therefore, Serbia's balance policy between the EU and Russia will continue to occupy our agenda for many years."

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