EU Commission urges Serbia to tighten visa policy for Russian citizens

The European Commission has called on Serbia to align its visa policy with that of the European Union, including restrictions on Russian citizens, as part of the country’s EU accession process, Deutsche Welle reported.

In its 2025 progress report on Serbia, published on November 4, the Commission said Belgrade’s visa regime only partially matches the EU’s list of third countries whose nationals require visas to enter the bloc.

Brussels voiced concern over Serbia’s practice of granting citizenship to Russian nationals, allowing them visa-free access to the EU, which it said poses potential security risks.

The report also criticized Serbia for refusing to join EU sanctions against Russia, maintaining “a high level of contacts with Moscow and rhetoric containing elements of anti-Western propaganda.”