The Netherlands keeps blocking next step in Serbia’s EU accession process

The Netherlands is refusing to back a new step in Serbia’s path towards European Union membership, despite renewed discussions on enlargement at a meeting of EU foreign ministers earlier this month. During talks with Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos on the sidelines of the informal Gymnich meeting, Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen reiterated that The Hague cannot support the opening of a new chapter in Serbia’s accession process. The reasons go beyond a single issue, and touch on some of the most politically sensitive questions in Serbia’s relations with the EU.