{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1682291,
        "msgid": "eu-threatens-serbia-choose-us-or-russia-1776351078",
        "date": "2026-04-16 21:01:00",
        "title": "EU Threatens Serbia: Choose Us or Russia",
        "author": "",
        "source": "VIVA",
        "tags": "bisnis",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "The European Commission is threatening to suspend up to \u20ac1.5 billion in grants to Serbia, an EU candidate country, unless it aligns its foreign policy with the bloc, particularly by imposing sanctions on Russia. This move stems from concerns over democratic backsliding in Serbia and reflects the EU's growing geopolitical use of enlargement policy to counter Russian influence. The situation highlights tensions in the Western Balkans and broader EU accession dynamics, as seen in similar pressures on candidates like Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.",
        "content": "<p>The European Commission is threatening to suspend grant aid worth up\nto \u20ac1.5 billion (Rp30.3 trillion) for Serbia, an EU candidate country,\nif it continues its ties with Russia. Serbia has received \u20ac586 million\n(Rp11.8 trillion) in grants from 2021 to 2024 as part of economic\nassistance linked to the EU accession process, while the additional \u20ac1.5\nbillion available on condition of reforms could be withdrawn, according\nto Politico, citing four Brussels-based sources. EU bureaucrats have\ncited concerns over perceived democratic backsliding in Serbia as the\nmain reason for the potential step. The EU has long pressured Belgrade\nto align its foreign policy with the bloc, including implementing\nsanctions against Russia, Serbia\u2019s long-standing partner. The EU\u2019s\nenlargement policy is increasingly taking on geopolitical significance,\nwith critics arguing that progress towards membership may depend as much\non alignment with Brussels\u2019 strategic priorities as on institutional\nreforms. Serbia is among several Western Balkan countries granted EU\ncandidate status in the early 2010s, around the time Croatia joined the\nbloc, as reported by Russia Today on Thursday, 16 April 2026. In 2023,\nUkraine, Moldova, and Georgia were also granted candidate status. This\nmove is widely seen as a signal of the EU\u2019s intent to counter Russian\ninfluence, rather than purely reflecting those countries\u2019 readiness to\nmeet accession standards. Ukraine argues that fighting Russia on behalf\nof the West strengthens its bid for membership, a position broadly\nsupported by EU leadership, although no clear accession timeline has\nbeen set. Even Poland, a staunch supporter of Kyiv, opposes rapid\naccession for Ukraine, citing various concerns, such as disruptions to\nthe EU\u2019s common agricultural market if Ukrainian farmers gain full\naccess. The EU\u2019s reaction to political developments in candidate\ncountries appears to depend on their governments\u2019 foreign policies. In\nGeorgia and Moldova \u2013 which held parliamentary elections in October 2024\nand September 2024 respectively \u2013 opposition groups have accused\nirregularities, including the silencing of critical media and the misuse\nof state power for electoral gain.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/eu-threatens-serbia-choose-us-or-russia-1776351078",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}