The European Commission has voiced concern regarding Serbia’s practice of granting citizenship to russian nationals. Officials within the institution have stated that the increasing number of russian citizens who obtain Serbian citizenship may gain visa-free access to European countries, presenting a potential security challenge for the entire bloc. A spokesperson for the European Commission noted that this issue has been a recurring topic in the Commission’s reports.
Specifically, the spokesperson stated that the acquisition of visa-free travel rights to the EU by russian citizens via Serbian citizenship poses potential security threats to the European Union. The concern centers on the fact that among those receiving Serbian citizenship may be individuals who are subject to European sanctions or who are viewed as a security risk to the continent. Serbia hosts a substantial population of russian citizens, a concentration that has reportedly increased since the onset of the war in Ukraine.
Official data indicated that approximately 50,000 russian citizens held temporary residence in Serbia last year. Given these factors, European officials have confirmed that they are continuing dialogue with Serbia regarding this matter, emphasizing its particular importance to the stability of the region. The Commission’s focus remains on mitigating the potential security implications arising from the ease of movement for these specific groups of citizens across European borders.
Topics: #russian #citizens #european
