Serbia says it remains committed to European perspective

Despite its steady opposition to the EU’s policy on Kosovo, the largest country in the Balkans will continue its move towards EU membership, Serbia’s foreign minister Vuc Jeremic told his EU counterparts at their informal meeting in Brdo last weekend (28-29 March).

“Despite all the challenges and despite all the difficulties that we are going through, we remain committed to the path of European integration,” Jeremic said after the meeting. He expressed his confidence that Serbia would become an EU member “in a few years […] maybe four, five or six years”. 

Much will depend on the forthcoming elections in Serbia on 11 May, he added, describing them as “a critical battle for the European souls of the Western Balkans”. 

“In fact, for the first time since 5 October 2000, the European idea in Serbia is on the defensive. And, like it or not, this is primarily because of the support for a unilateral declaration of independence by a number of you,” Jeremic told the ministers. 

Serbian President Boris Tadic had dissolved parliament and called early elections after the outgoing government collapsed on 8 March over how to deal with the EU on Kosovo. This collapse also prevented the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), which is considered a “gateway” to EU membership (EURACTIV 07/02/08). 

Underlining his country’s EU commitment, Jeremic said that the Serbian government was ready to sign the SAA “immediately” and continue moving forward rapidly. This step, in addition to an agreement over a road map for the adoption of a visa-free regime, could help counter Serbian concerns fostered by uncertainty over Kosovo, Jeremic suggested. 

The Netherlands and Belgium remain opposed to signing an SAA with Serbia before it hands over the former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic and his military commander Ratko Mladic to the court in The Hague. 

Jeremic said that “we are very much aware of our obligations to the ICTY,” adding that “the only way we’ll be able to finish what we started […] is to keep building Serbia’s road to Europe”. 

Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, welcomed the “very friendly, constructive discussion” at the meeting. “We want Serbia to show restraint […] but also to progress towards the EU,” Rupel pointed out.

The EU’s desire to arrange a meeting between Jeremic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was not fulfilled, as Jeremic left the meeting immediately after talks with his EU counterparts before Thaci’s arrival, demonstrating Serbia’s non-recognition of Kosovo’s independence. 

But, however, Jeremic spoke in favour of a “practical dialogue” on Kosovo between the EU and Serbia. His statement was echoed by Thaci, who said that Kosovo would also be seeking good relations with Serbia in the future. 

Regarding Kosovo’s European perspective, Thaci said that “from today, Kosovo is a de-facto candidate for EU membership,” expressing his confidence that “we will soon be a member of the EU and NATO”. 

Meanwhile, the EU reaffirmed the membership perspectives of the other Western Balkan countries, such as Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania. 

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