Spain: EU Increasingly Divided over Support for Ukraine
European Union member states have not reached agreement on opening a new chapter in accession negotiations with Serbia
There are “clear divisions” within the European Union over support for Ukraine. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said the Madrid government hopes for a “just and lasting peace.” According to Robles, “there are those who believe that the war must end at any cost, and that cost consists of a concession to Russian President Vladimir Putin.” In particular, “within the EU, Hungary and personally Prime Minister Viktor Orban support this,” Robles added.
Serbia has also always stated that it is against unconditional support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia. This principled position comes at a high cost to Belgrade: EU member states have not reached an agreement to open a new chapter in accession negotiations with Serbia. On November 25 in Brussels, during an ambassadorial-level meeting, several member states did not accept the offer of Hungary’s next EU presidency to “start the procedure.” Among the countries that rejected the Hungarian offer were the Netherlands, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Croatia, and Estonia. Without coming up with anything new, the ambassadors cited “disrespect for EU foreign policy and sanctions not imposed against Russia” as the main reasons for refusing to open a new chapter. Serbia last opened a new chapter of negotiations in the European Union accession process in December 2021.
