Eight national capitals have opposed and blocked a European Commission proposal to open a new EU membership negotiations ‘cluster’ with Serbia, meaning that moves to fast-track Belgrade have hit the buffers.

Diplomats said that ambassadors from Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and Sweden were firmly opposed to opening talks on single market alignment with Serbia.

Three other countries – Denmark, Latvia, and Luxembourg – were less opposed but not convinced that Belgrade has met obligations to clean up corruption, implement sanctions against Russia, and to protect media freedom.

One diplomat noted that with “such a large group opposed based on such fundamental issues” it was impossible to imagine that the proposal would be received in the near future.

Unanimous support from every single one of the EU’s 27 member states is required to open and close any of the six negotiating ‘clusters’, thematic areas of law and policy, making the road to membership difficult.

The Commission argued, in a meeting of Coreper on Wednesday, that Serbia had “implemented substantial elements” and “remedied backsliding” but the arguments were rejected.

Marta Kos, the enlargement commissioner, is among strong supporters of bringing Serbia closer to the EU, a position that is supported by Germany.

The setback for Belgrade is a defeat for the Commission’s policy of using “gradual integration”, especially on the single market, to bring countries closer and comes at a time when debate rages about the future of EU enlargement.

Serbia’s supporters see enlargement in the Western Balkans as a key geopolitical strategy to pull EU neighbours away from Russian and Chinese influence, but opponents fear Belgrade is being rewarded while backsliding on democratic and judicial reforms.

“The problem with bringing countries in too quickly is that we just end up importing geopolitical problems into the heart of EU decision-making,” said a diplomat from an opposing country.

Serbia formally applied for EU membership in 2009 and became an official candidate 14 years ago in a lengthy process that has disillusioned many Serbs.

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