European Parliament urges suspension of EU funding for Serbia

Tonino Picula, the European Parliament's standing rapporteur on Serbia, has called on the European Commission to consider halting financial allocations to Belgrade due to the country's lack of progress towards EU integration under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans.

According to Report's Balkans bureau, Picula made the remarks during a parliamentary session that discussed Serbia's situation alongside other issues. He argued that Serbia has made "very little progress" on its path toward EU integration.

Picula stressed that the latest progress report reflects the country's real situation, noting that in many negotiation chapters there has been little or no advancement. "The government says EU membership is a strategic goal, but the facts do not confirm this," he stated.

Earlier, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged that Serbia would not become a full member of the European Union within the next five years.