Brussels reminds Serbia of the need to align with EU sanctions on Russia after Vučić-Putin call

A day after Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the European Commission reminded Belgrade that it must better align its policies with those of the European Union, including the implementation of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.

“As a candidate country, Serbia is expected to harmonize its policies with EU objectives, including energy and foreign policy, and to be a reliable partner moving in the same strategic direction,” European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier told Radio Free Europe.

He said the EU’s position on candidate countries’ relations with Russia “has always been crystal clear,” REL writes.

“Relations with Russia cannot develop as if everything were business as usual with the Putin regime, in the shadow of Russia’s aggressive, unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine,” Mercier said.

His remarks followed the September 26 phone call between Vučić and Putin.

The conversation took place a day before Vučić resigned as Serbia’s president, as he heads the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) list for the prime minister’s post in the October 25 snap elections.

After the call with Putin, Vučić said he believed the agreement on the supply of Russian gas to Serbia would be extended.

The current short-term deal expires on September 30.

Serbia imports more than 80 percent of the gas it consumes from Russia.

Belgrade has failed to reach a long-term gas supply deal since the previous three-year contract expired in the summer of 2025. Since then, agreements with Moscow have been extended for short periods. The current one was extended in June for three months.

The European Commission said it was aware of the conversation between Vučić and Putin.

Referring to Vučić’s statement that Serbia’s next president would have to look after the country’s interests and maintain a balance toward key international actors, Mercier recalled Serbia’s obligations as an EU candidate country.

According to him, Serbia’s decision to apply for membership implies a commitment to harmonize its policies with the EU, including foreign and security policy.

“Serbia’s alignment with our Common Foreign and Security Policy continues to be significantly lower than in other candidate countries in the Western Balkans,” Mercier said.

He added that Serbia should, as a priority, intensify efforts toward a “more sustainable and significantly higher” level of alignment with EU policy, including sanctions on Russia.

“We want to be able to count on Serbia as a reliable partner,” he said.

The European Commission said the EU is increasing its support for Western Balkan countries in the field of energy security, with the aim of reducing dependence on fossil fuels and diversifying supply sources and routes.

According to Mercier, this would enable the region’s countries to better integrate their energy networks and access energy from diverse sources.