"EU understands Serbia's complex ties with Russia"

"EU understands Serbia's complex ties with Russia"

This statement came as response to the question about wether the EU "or most of its member states" would pressure Serbia, asking it to take the side of the policy of EU sanctions against Russia, "despite the fact Serbia has many years of close foreign policy connections and major economic interests with Russia, and that the government has said Serbia considers both Ukraine and Russia friendly countries."

Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, relayed the official position that "the EU as a rule calls on third countries to harmonize with its positions, especially when it comes to sanctions."

As she explained, "this is particularly true of candidate countries and potential candidates who are bound through the Association Agreement to increase their compliance with EU foreign policy issues - their progress is also assessed in view of that."

"But the final decision is on those third countries", said she.

An official with the European Commission who wished to remain anonymous confirmed that "it is customary for countries negotiating their membership in the EU to accept foreign policy positions and major foreign policy moves of the EU."

"But it is not an obligation, because these countries are not yet members of the EU and, therefore, it depends on them whether they will, as Serbia in this case, harmonize their positions with the EU."

The same official noted that "Serbia and some other candidates for membership on previous occasions did not always accept sanctions and similar moves, so given the circumstances, it is not a surprise now."

"There is a certain understanding, although some in the EU are expecting Serbia to still in some way make it known that it, too, 'understands' EU's policies and actions in the Ukrainian crisis," said this anonymous source, according to Beta.

"An informed official," this time from the Council of Ministers, was also quoted by the agency as saying that "some candidate countries and potential candidates already agreed to apply EU sanctions against Russia, but some, including Serbia, did not because it is not an obligation for them, since they are not EU members. "

"Such situations also happened in the past, although an EU candidate negotiating membership is expected to join EU's foreign policy moves. There was also understanding previously for the views of Serbia, and there will perhaps be a little more understanding now if Serbia perseveres in its neutral position, because the complexity of relations between Serbia and Russia is understood (in Brussels," explained the official.

According to Beta, the same anonymous source added that he "does not believe there will be some particular pressure on Serbia in this respect."