The European Union views Serbia as an ally, Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi told the Euractiv portal.

“We understand the very specific and peculiar position Serbia is in, but we need their support, and we need their help, and there are ways to do that,” he said commenting Belgrade’s failure to align with the EU sanctions policy on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

“This is a question of alliances. We regard Serbia to be our ally,” Varhelyi said.

He added that alignment with EU common foreign and security policy is the issue. “To my mind, it is clear that our member states, in the current geopolitical situation we are in, devote huge attention to this issue,” he said.