EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos Rejects Sanctions on Serbia, Favoring Dialogue Over Punitive Measures
BRUSSELS – Marta Kos, the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement, has explicitly ruled out the implementation of sanctions against Serbia, despite escalating concerns from various member states and international observers regarding the country’s domestic political trajectory. In a recent statement regarding the bloc’s strategy toward the Western Balkans, Kos emphasized that Brussels intends to prioritize diplomatic engagement over punitive isolation.
Addressing calls for a tougher stance against Belgrade amidst reports of democratic backsliding and growing authoritarianism, Kos clarified her position on the use of restrictive measures.
“I am against sanctions,” Kos stated. “We must deal with things in a different way, through conversation.”
The Commissioner’s comments signal a continuation of the European Union’s preference for keeping communication channels open with Serbia, the largest candidate country in the region, rather than utilizing the “stick” of economic or political penalties. This approach comes even as critics point to issues regarding media freedom, judicial independence, and the rule of law within Serbia.
However, the Commissioner’s refusal to entertain sanctions has reignited a debate regarding the consistency of the European Union’s foreign policy in the region. Observers and analysts have drawn sharp contrasts between the lenient approach toward Belgrade and the harsh measures recently imposed on Kosovo.
Critics argue that a double standard is currently at play within the European Commission. The EU imposed a package of “reversible political and financial measures” against Kosovo following tensions in the northern part of the country. These measures included the suspension of high-level visits, the freezing of work in the Stabilization and Association Agreement sub-committees, and the restriction of funding.
The sanctions on Kosovo were triggered primarily by the government’s decision to install newly elected ethnic Albanian mayors in municipal buildings in Serb-majority areas—elections that were boycotted by the local Serb population. While Brussels characterized the move by Pristina as a failure to de-escalate tensions, supporters of the Kosovar government argue that the EU effectively sanctioned the country simply for seating legally elected officials within its own sovereign territory.
The disparity in the EU’s response mechanisms has raised questions about the impartiality of the accession process. While Kosovo faces active financial and diplomatic repercussions for its handling of municipal governance disputes, Serbia appears to be shielded from similar consequences regarding its internal democratic standards and its complex geopolitical alignment.
As the EU attempts to revitalize the enlargement process for the Western Balkans, Commissioner Kos’s reliance on “conversation” suggests that Brussels remains wary of alienating Belgrade, even if it risks accusations of inconsistency from other regional partners.
