EU offers Serbia fresh membership hope if new government strengthens democracy

Serbia’s student-led opposition won last month’s election, defeating populist President Aleksandar Vucic.

The EU says a new government could revive membership talks by strengthening democracy and rights.

Serbia had made some technical progress in its talks, but democratic standards deteriorated under Vucic.

The European Commission says Montenegro could join in 2028, with Albania and Moldova following in 2029.

EU member countries must unanimously approve each candidate, and Ukraine is unlikely to meet the conditions before the end of the decade.

Serbia’s government may take months to form, and membership still appears years away; the movement’s main focus is fighting corruption.