Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic said on January 13 he will not meet a European Parliament delegation visiting Belgrade later this month, describing the lawmakers as “uninvited” and adversaries of Serbia, Beta reported.

Serbia had previously skipped the EU-Western Balkans summit in Brussels on December 17 after EU member states again failed to agree on advancing Belgrade’s accession talks.

Speaking from Abu Dhabi, where he attended the opening of Sustainability Week, Vucic said he would be in Davos during the delegation’s January 22-24 visit.

“The haters of Serbia have sat down and decided to come to Belgrade, while failing to consult with us or inform us of their plans. We have not invited them,” he said, adding he would not meet them even if he were in Serbia.

Vucic said that he only wanted to talk with people who had good intentions for Serbia and that he would have such meetings in Davos. Serbia’s Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabic also confirmed she would not meet the delegation, citing prior commitments.

The European Parliament mission is due in Belgrade from January 22 to 24. Vucic’s comments highlight ongoing friction between Serbian leadership and EU lawmakers, following EU support for anti-government protests in Serbia.

Tensions have also risen after EU officials in December refused to advance Serbia’s accession talks and dismissed Vucic’s proposal that all Western Balkan countries join the bloc simultaneously. Serbia, the region’s largest economy, remains a major investment destination, but EU officials and diplomats say reform momentum has slowed.

EU lawmakers say progress is needed on the rule of law, media freedom and foreign and security policy before Serbia can open Cluster 3 of accession negotiations.