Inverse Rhetorical Entrapment in Serbia-EU Relations

This research examines Serbia's EU accession path, which has been progressing at an extremely slow pace due to challenges related to democratization (Europeanization) and significant political obstacles, alongside the EU's prolonged enlargement fatigue. Addressing the broader workshop question—How can we theorize the access to the EU of non-member states and non-state actors, and its effects?—the author investigates whether the current state of Serbia-EU relations can be explained through the lens of inverse rhetorical entrapment. Examining Turkey's case, Schimmelfennig describes the "entrapment mechanism" as a process by which member and candidate countries are induced to comply with EU membership norms and democratic values. In this view, the more a candidate fulfills these standards, the stronger the entrapment becomes, often compelling membership opponents to accept enlargement despite national reservations. The author argues that in Serbia's case, particularly since 2020, the entrapment is inverse: the government exploits the promise of membership to deflect blame onto the EU for stalled relations, while intentionally avoiding reforms that would foster deeper integration, given the political costs such reforms entail. Although Serbia's EU accession is less opposed by Member States compared to Turkey’s, the Belgrade authorities appear uninterested in achieving membership in the short or medium term. This remains true despite positive enlargement signals amidst the current geopolitical crisis and Serbia's status as a nominal frontrunner among accession candidates. The author draws on institutionalist theory, as applied by Schimmelfennig to Turkey, and rational choice theory to highlight the tension between the need for institutional development and the political calculations of Serbia's elite, who are reluctant to support membership due to perceived costs. The resulting dynamic mirrors Turkey's, as relations between Serbia and the EU become increasingly transactional rather than focused on genuine Europeanization.