Hungary’s push to accelerate Serbia’s EU membership process by opening Cluster 3 of accession talks met strong resistance on November 25 at an extraordinary meeting of Coreper II, the EU’s working body for permanent representatives. 

Hungary, a steadfast supporter of Serbia’s EU aspirations, has frequently called for faster integration of the Western Balkans, citing geopolitical and economic considerations. However, its latest bid revealed deep divisions within the bloc over enlargement.

The Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU had proposed opening Cluster 3, arguing that Serbia was "technically ready" to progress in negotiations. Cluster 3 covers key areas such as taxation, employment, monetary policy, customs and scientific research.

Hungary emphasised Serbia's commitments to achieving rule-of-law benchmarks by 2025, aligning its media legislation with EU standards, and consulting the bloc on actions related to Kosovo.

Despite Hungary’s assurances, the proposal failed to secure the unanimity required for approval. Opposition came from countries including Croatia, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, with diplomats citing significant concerns over Serbia’s alignment with EU principles.

While member states recognised Serbia’s progress, detractors highlighted unresolved issues, including its refusal to impose sanctions on Russia, ongoing tensions with Kosovo, and concerns over human rights and media freedom. “Concrete results are required before we can proceed,” one diplomat told Euronews.

Serbia’s relationship with Russia has been a major sticking point for the country’s EU accession bid. Unlike most EU countries that have imposed strict sanctions on Moscow following the invasion of Ukraine, Serbia has maintained close ties with Russia.

Serbia’s free trade agreement with China, which came into effect in July 1, has raised further questions about its compatibility with EU standards. The agreement removed 60% of tariffs between Serbia and China, complicating Serbia’s alignment with the EU’s unified trade policy — a core requirement for membership.

While the European Commission has acknowledged Serbia’s technical readiness to open Cluster 3, the lack of consensus among member states underscores the challenges of balancing political alignment with technical progress in the accession process.