European Commission chief seeks to reassure Serbia over EU bid

FILE PHOTO: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic pose for photographers prior to a meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 26, 2021. Virginia Mayo/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

BELGRADE (Reuters) - The European Commission moved on Thursday to reassure Serbia of its future European Union membership after an internal document in Brussels showed that EU states could no longer agree to guarantee six Balkan countries a place in the bloc.

Ahead of a Balkan-EU summit on Oct. 6 in Slovenia, Reuters reported on Tuesday that the 27 member states have so far been unable to agree a declaration reaffirming their 18-year-old pledge of future EU membership for the western Balkan states.