At least five EU states do not back opening Cluster 3 with Serbia
N1 and Danas, citing RFE/RL, report that the Netherlands officially does not support opening Cluster 3 in Serbia's EU talks, while diplomatic sources say at least five member states oppose it. The main reasons are rule of law, Serbia's failure to sanction Russia, and the assessment that opening the cluster now would not be merit-based.
What matters
Dutch position
A Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed to RFE/RL that the government does not support opening Cluster 3 because of rule-of-law concerns.
Not only the Netherlands
According to RFE/RL diplomatic sources, at least five EU states oppose opening Cluster 3, including the Netherlands, three Baltic states, and Sweden.
Reasons for opposition
The sources cite rule of law and, for some states, Serbia's failure to impose sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
What Cluster 3 is
Cluster 3 covers competitiveness and inclusive growth and includes eight negotiating chapters; the European Commission assessed the opening benchmarks as met back in 2021.
Breakdown by publication
How sources frame this story
Mobile shows the first 2; the full breakdown is available on desktop.
RFE/RL: At least five EU states do not support opening Cluster 3 with Serbia
N1 carries RFE/RL's report: a Dutch Foreign Ministry spokesperson confirmed that the government does not support continuing Serbia's EU talks by opening Cluster 3 because of the rule-of-law situation. The response says the Netherlands' assessment of the 2025 enlargement package still stands: opening Cluster 3 now would not be merit-based. According to RFE/RL diplomatic sources, at least five EU states oppose the move, including the Netherlands, three Baltic states, and Sweden; reasons include rule of law and Serbia's refusal to impose sanctions on Russia.
Officially confirmed: Netherlands blocks Serbia's opening of Cluster 3
Danas publishes the same Beta/RFE/RL account and emphasizes the officially confirmed Dutch position. The article notes that the European Council's 2024 conclusions already required Serbia to make significant further progress, including on rule of law. Danas also reports that Cluster 3 concerns competitiveness and inclusive growth, covers eight negotiating chapters, and that the European Commission assessed the opening benchmarks as met in 2021.
Overall takeaway
Both articles show that after the June judicial-law package and government claims that Cluster 3 could open soon, a political blockage remains in the EU: the key objections concern rule of law and foreign-policy alignment.
What this means for residents
For EU talks
Serbia has not opened new negotiation chapters since December 2021; this signal shows that a quick Cluster 3 unlock is again uncertain.
For reforms
The articles tie the blockage to rule of law, anti-corruption, and media freedom, not only to a technical Brussels procedure.
For foreign policy
Some objections are linked to Serbia not joining Russia sanctions, so the EU track remains tied to Belgrade's foreign-policy choices.
