{"id":444129,"date":"2025-09-22T21:15:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T21:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/444129\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T21:15:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T21:15:18","slug":"serbias-eu-bid-complicated-by-russian-energy-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/444129\/","title":{"rendered":"Serbia’s EU Bid Complicated by Russian Energy Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Serbia is a candidate<\/a> for European Union membership and Hungary has been a full member since 2004, but that hasn\u2019t prevented them from collaborating<\/a> with Russia to undermine EU cohesion and meddle with efforts to break Europe\u2019s dependency on Russian energy. Ukrainian drones, however, have succeeded in disrupting Belgrade\u2019s and Budapest\u2019s designs.<\/p>\n

EU Commissioner for Energy Dan J\u00f8rgensen unveiled<\/a> an ambitious plan in June to stop all Russian oil and natural gas exports to the European Union by 2027. A little over one month later, Hungary and Serbia announced a joint effort to build additional infrastructure that would enable Russian oil exports to reach Serbia via an extension<\/a> of the Druzhba pipeline. Once built, the pipeline will be able to convey upwards of 5 million tons of oil annually to Serbia. The target completion date is 2027.<\/p>\n

A recent analysis<\/a> published by the Western Balkans Center<\/a> at New Lines Institute explains how Serbia\u2019s actions are \u201crevealing broader inefficiencies in the EU\u2019s strategy to mitigate external energy influences.\u201d<\/p>\n

The analysis states Serbia is pursuing a \u201cdeliberate strategy of maneuvering between Russia and China to maximize autonomy while extracting concessions from Brussels. The result is a dual challenge for the EU \u2013 Serbia\u2019s continuation of Russian energy dependence that undermines sanctions unity, and resource politics that could anchor Chinese influence at the heart of the Union\u2019s green transition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Given Serbia\u2019s EU candidate status, Belgrade\u2019s actions additionally highlight \u201ca broader vulnerability in the EU\u2019s enlargement policy \u2013 its inability to prevent candidate states from using external partnerships to evade reform demands necessary for accession.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the analysis notes, Serbia\u2019s Druzhba extension plan complicates its negotiations with Brussels on Cluster 4 requirements<\/a>, which oblige an aspiring member state to harmonize its policies with EU standards concerning the \u201cgreen agenda and sustainable connectivity.\u201d Among the specific topics that need to be settled are energy supply, infrastructure and the internal energy market.\u00a0 Although the EU opened negotiations with Serbia on Cluster 4 topics in 2021, none of the necessary provisions have been finalized to date.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe planned pipeline deepens Serbia\u2019s reliance on Russian oil and contradicts EU accession requirements outlined in Cluster 4,\u201d the New Lines analysis states.<\/p>\n

In August, Ukrainian drone attacks on the Druzhba pipeline on Russian territory raised questions about the utility of the Serbian pipeline extension plan. The damage done to the Unecha pumping station<\/a> in one of those strikes caused a disruption to Europe-bound oil shipments, prompting complaints by Hungary and Slovakia. Despite EU efforts to wean itself off Russian energy, Druzhba remains a vital supply conduit for both Budapest and Bratislava.<\/p>\n

In the aftermath of the August attacks, Ukraine\u2019s president, Volodymyr Zelensky suggested that Kyiv might target Druzhba again, unless Hungary moderates its stance on hindering EU assistance to Ukraine, including a block on accession. \u201cWe have always supported friendship between Ukraine and Hungary. And now the existence of Druzhba [which means ‘friendship\u2019 in Ukrainian] depends on Hungary\u2019s position,\u201d Zelensky said<\/a>. Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, in turn, warned Zelensky that further Ukrainian efforts disrupt the Hungary-bound flow of Russian oil would have big consequences for Kyiv.<\/p>\n

Regardless of whether Ukraine mounts new strikes on Druzhba, the proposal of a Serbian pipeline extension presents a serious challenge to the EU\u2019s cohesion, the New Lines analysis underscores.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSerbian geopolitical maneuvering involving Russia is dangerous to European geopolitical stability and prosperity,\u201d the analysis states. \u201cRussia has historically capitalized<\/a> on destabilization and conflict in the Western Balkans. This further diverts the region from EU democratic norms and allows Russia to extend its influence<\/a> in Europe, despite EU sanctions.\u201d<\/p>\n

By Eurasianet.org<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com<\/strong><\/p>\n

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