Serbia

Serbia lies at the heart of the Western Balkans, at the crossroads between Central Europe, the Mediterranean and the East. A candidate since 2012, it has been negotiating its accession since 2014 and remains central to the Union's commitment to the whole region.

Serbia has opened 22 of 35 negotiating chapters, but progress has stalled: the EU points to an erosion of media and academic freedom, while the balancing act between Europe and other powers and the unresolved relationship with Kosovo weigh on its future. Since the deadly collapse of the Novi Sad station canopy in 2024, a student-led citizen movement has demanded accountability, and in the snap elections of October 2026 a student list defeated the ruling coalition — a turning point whose consequences for the European path remain to be seen.

Serbia reflects a conviction the European Democrats hold firmly: that the future of the Western Balkans lies in Europe, and that this future must be built on the rule of law, free media and the will of citizens — not granted in spite of their absence.