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The European Commission is intensifying its efforts to open Serbia’s accession clusters, contending that Belgrade has achieved adequate progress on various reforms to support moving forward with its EU membership application.

Before a meeting of EU ambassadors on Wednesday, the Commission has provided member states with a document explaining why it thinks Cluster 3 should be opened, following Serbia’s reversal of contentious judicial changes and its reported advancements in media freedom, electoral reforms, and alignment with the bloc’s foreign and security policy.

The entrance to Cluster 3 has remained closed since the Commission initially introduced it in 2021 because of worries regarding the rule of law, press freedom, Serbia’s international relations stance, and the reconciliation process with Kosovo.

“The Commission believes that Cluster 3 should commence in July 2026, taking into account Serbia’s progress on critical issues, and that the overall balance required for this move is currently in place,” states the information note, dated 3 July and reviewed by .

As stated in the document, Serbia has put into practice significant parts of its obligations aimed at resolving issues raised by member states, such as removing contentious changes to judicial laws, along with advancements in media freedom, the electoral system, and collaboration with the EU regarding foreign and security policy.

Although Serbia has not yet adhered to EU sanctions targeting Russia due to its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Commission highlights that Belgrade has worked with the union to prevent the bypassing of sanctions, offered significant assistance to Ukraine, and increased top-level political interactions with Kyiv.

The paper also recognizes that Serbia’s efforts are not yet finished, noting that “more work is still needed” regarding judicial reform and the prosecution system.

The evaluation follows Serbian President Aleksandar Vučićdefended his country’s tieson an official trip to China in May.

Regarding the judiciary, the Commission states that Serbia has “addressed the regression” noted earlier this year and has made efforts to enhance the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime, while recognizing that “additional work is still needed” within the judicial and prosecutorial system.

It also highlights the inclusion of minority representatives in the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, along with changes to four election-related laws, as proof of continued advancement.

However, the Commission’s evaluation is unlikely to persuade all member states, which need to unanimously support the initiation of a new accession group. Some EU capitals still doubt that Serbia’s recent reforms are sufficient to address wider concerns regarding democratic regression, judicial independence, and the rule of law.

The note concludes that the Commission will keep actively involved to ensure Serbia fulfills the anticipated reforms.