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Like all other European countries
and the rest of the world, our
country is also faced with dramatic
humanitarian, economic and political
consequences of the pandemic.
The changes occurring during the
pandemic, to which we must respond
both collectively and individually,
are not new. It is a question of the
ongoing processes which were only
catalyzed by the crisis.
However, the pandemic prompted the
whole world to seek new systemic
solutions against it.
We welcome the conclusions of the
European Parliament Committee on
Foreign Affairs brought on 20 April.
They are encouraging and instill
hope in the EU’s ability and
resoluteness to jointly seek
solutions for the European Union and
beyond after the initial unavoidable
shock. We emphasize the importance
that these solutions also include
the Western Balkan countries and
recommend the continuation of
financing the Western Balkans and
provision of support to regional
cooperation and full-fledged
membership of the Western Balkan
countries in the European Union.
Amidst the unprecedented global
crisis, the European Union decided
to open accession negotiations with
North Macedonia and Albania, and
appointed Special Envoy for the
Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue. In this
way, it confirmed its stance on the
Western Balkans’ European future and
demonstrated its consistency in
conducting EU enlargement strategy
(COM(2018) 65 final.
Like many other countries, Serbia
was also unprepared for a pandemic.
Due to its largely collapsed health
system and the exodus of health
professionals, it resorted to the
most rigorous isolation measures on
the old continent.
Apart from numerous unavoidable
consequences accompanying the
anti-pandemic fight, one can also
detect the growing of a latent
threat to democracy, the rule of law
and universal human values. The
authoritarian potential also showed
its face in some other Western
Balkan countries, but it is most
pronounced in Serbia. The
authoritarian state, its nationalist
policy and decision-making
centralization in the hands of one
man demonstrated all their flaws
once again. Without questioning the
justifiability of necessary
measures, there is a danger that the
suspension of democracy and human
rights during the epidemic becomes
reinforced over a long term; this
can call into question not only a
comprehensive and long-term
anti-pandemic fight, but also
Serbia’s democratic institutions
that are only just emerging. This is
also corroborated by the fact that
during the epidemic Serbia’s
political leadership openly turned
its back on the EU and European
orientation, regardless of its
delayed and cosmetic excuses sent to
Brussels.
Thanks to its support and
incentives, the EU enabled some
countries in the region to get out
of the ruins of war. It is still the
main donor, investor and trade
partner of all West Balkan
countries. The EU granted €7.5
million and Norway alone granted €5
million. The EU also prepared a
package worth €93.4 million by
allowing the transfer of unspent
funds from the Instrument for
Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and
ongoing projects. It also donated 90
tons of medical equipment.
Due to regressive political trends
over the years, the situation in
Serbia points to the urgency for
taking a more resolute step forward.
Serbia’s pro-European citizens are
aware that the opportunity, like the
one in early 2000, should not be
missed once again; this also
requires a more resolute activation
of democratic forces in society. Due
to the lack of the domestic
democratic potential, a step forward
is possible only with the
consistent, active and offensive
engagement of the EU and its
members.
Stability, democratization and peace
in the region are impossible without
stability, democratization and peace
in Serbia. Therefore, we plead that,
at the forthcoming (online) EU-West
Balkans Summit on 6 May, which is
devoted to the current and,
probably, longterm-pandemic fight,
attention is also given to the
special circumstances of democratic
stagnation in Serbia. We plead with
the EU to pay special attention to
the following, and once again:
Supports the demands of pro-European
and democratic forces for the return
of parliamentarism to Serbia and
that the National Parliament regains
its function of a supervisor over
the executive authority and the
president of the republic;
Strongly supports progressive and
reform-oriented forces such as the
new class of entrepreneurs,
professional associations in the
fields of education, culture,
science, health, judicuiary and
environment, pro-European and
anti-nationalist forces and efforts,
as well as the part of the civil
sector that advocates and promotes
European values and Serbia’s EU
membership as its priority;
Demands respect for media freedom
and provides adequate support to all
institutions which inform Serbia’s
citizens about the EU’s values and
significance for the development of
democracy and better life of
citizens, so that the public can get
an insight into the EU’s true values
and the country’s development
potential within its framework;
Does whatever it can to have the
Serbian authorities to enable
citizens to be professionally and
objectively informed about the
COVID-19 pandemic and all measures
taken by the EU and its member
countries, and not only about the
quest for finding a cure in fight
against pandemic, but also about all
new security, economic,
communication and other strategies
for organizing life and work under
the threat of this invisible enemy;
Supports and empowers all
initiatives and institutions that
advocate and fight for Serbia’s
sustainable development and the
application of the mechanisms Clean
Planet for all A European strategic
long-term vision for a prosperous,
modern, competitive and climate
neutral economy COM/2018/773 final;
And, last but not least, invites as
often as possible the pro-European
structures in Serbia to participate
in EU activities (discussions, panel
meetings, briefings) in order to
provide better information about
Serbia and gain insight into the
work and functioning of European
institutions.
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