Sitemap

Nicolas Marquier, Regional Manager for the Western Balkans at the IFC

Financing the Future

IFC, the largest global development institution, has provided almost $1 billion in financing to Serbia’s private sector over the past six years IFC, as a...

Iosif Vangelatos, General Manager, Inos Balkan

Proud of Tripling Trade Volume

Inos Balkan already possessed extensive expertise in the recycling sector, with its collection and processing centres, while it has today transformed itself successfully to...

Aris Karousos, CEO of Eko Serbia

Drivers Know Why They Choose Eko

Two decades ago, when this company launched its operations in Serbia, the desire was for the EKO brand to become synonymous with reliability, quality...

Danilo Đurović, General Manager, Autotechnica Serbia – Hertz

Introducing Flex Drive

As part of the Autohellas Group, which has been the absolute leader of Greece’s automotive sector since 1974, Hertz is more than just a...

Nikos Veropoulos, Owner, Veropoulos

Super Vero, Super Successful

For two decades already, company Veropoulos has been known on our market for its unique offer and high-quality products at promotional prices, but also...

Dragan Đukanović, President Of The Centre For Foreign Policy And Professor At The University Of Belgrade Faculty Of Political Sciences

New Serbian Government Must Be Clearly Pro-european

Both neighbouring states and leading western countries like the U.S. or Germany will continue to insist that the new government of Serbia clearly determines its geopolitical stance. This also implies, first and foremost, a clear declaration on sanctions against Russia, but also an unambiguous expression of its European integration aspirations

Given that the war in Ukraine has caused a fundamental shift on the geopolitical scene in Europe and around the world, and somehow created a new Cold War-like division in Europe, Serbia is also expected to clearly determine and declare the foreign policy course it wants to pursue. In that sense, a certain degree of tolerance was evident – primarily due to pre-election activities – when it comes to the question of Serbia making a clear foreign policy commitment regarding restrictive measures imposed on the Russian Federation, but also regarding the Ukraine crisis generally.

Considering our real-world position surrounded by EU and NATO member states, it is to be expected that not only neighbouring states, but also leading Western countries like the U.S. or Germany, will continue striving to influence the new Government of Serbia to clearly determine its geopolitical stance. This also implies, first and foremost, a clear declaration on sanctions against Russia, but also an unambiguous expression of its European integration aspirations. Considering the degree of hesitation on this issue that’s been evident to date, I don’t think it will be viewed with benevolence following the formation of the new government. Thus, those who constitute the executive will be expected not only to be pro-European declaratively, but also to demonstrate their pro-European credentials clearly. Of course, when it comes to the domain of foreign policy, the new government will also be expected to consolidate relations with our neighbours in the Western Balkans and Southeast Europe.

I believe that the issue of functional regional cooperation will come to the fore in the period ahead, and along with it the resuscitating of the berlin process and – as its construct – the common regional market

Special emphasis will be placed on normalising relations with Kosovo, because it seems that, at this current geopolitical juncture, accelerating the process of normalising relations between Belgrade and Priština will also occupy a very important place in the foreign policy agendas of the U.S. and EU. It’s also clear that the new Serbian government will have to take on the energy diversification issue, which implies reducing the Russian Federation’s dominant influence when it comes to supplying gas. Alongside this, it seems to me that the issue of functional regional cooperation will come to the fore, and along with it the resuscitating of the Berlin Process and – as its construct – the Common Regional Market, but also some kind of harmonising of its operation with the Open Balkan initiative, which has been developing over the last three years. In a broader context, it is clear that the new Government of Serbia will be expected to continue to sign our country up to the declarations adopted by international organisations, like the UN General Assembly, the Council of Europe and the OSCE, related to further developments in the war in Ukraine.

Comment

Census Results Cause Concern

The Ministry of Education claims to be exerting ongoing efforts to reform education, but census results indicate the need for more work. The “Platform...

By Iva Draškić Vićanović Ph.D., Dean of the University of Belgrade Faculty of Philology

Restore Teachers’ Dignity

The proposals presented in our Platform are viable over the short term, require no large and lasting reforms and could lead to major visible...

Comment by Prof. dr Slobodan Zečević

The Mirage of the European Oasis

Serbia officially began EU accession negotiations in January 2014. Over the subsequent decade, 22 of the 35 accession negotiation chapters have been opened and...

Plamena Halacheva, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia

Easier Access to the Western Balkans’ Single Market

The EU aims to involve Western Balkans partners with its Member States on equal terms, fostering a reform partnership that’s oriented towards the future...

CEB Grants €1.3 Billion Loans to Boost Social Sectors in 11 Countries

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has sanctioned loans totaling €1.3 billion for 11 member countries, including Serbia...

Serbia Advances in Renewable Energy with Pupin Wind Park Financing

In a significant stride towards renewable energy adoption, Serbia has finalized the financial arrangements for the Pupin Wind Park,...

Đedović Handanović: Nuclear Energy in Serbia by 2039 at the Earliest

Nuclear energy in Serbia could become a reality by 2039 at the earliest, should work on the project commence...

Belgrade’s Hotel Jugoslavija Sold, Sparks Redevelopment Controversy

Belgrade's iconic Hotel Jugoslavija, located in Serbia's capital, has been sold for approximately €27 million to MV Investment, affiliated...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Kickstarts EU Membership Talks

Bosnia and Herzegovina has initiated accession negotiations with the European Union, a development hailed as a pivotal advancement for...

CEB Grants €1.3 Billion Loans to Boost Social Sectors in 11 Countries

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has sanctioned loans totaling €1.3 billion for 11 member countries, including Serbia...

Belgrade University Partners with CERN on Future Circular Collider Project

The University of Belgrade has officially become part of CERN's largest scientific endeavor, the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project,...

Kushner Eyes Balkan Luxury Developments in Serbia and Albania

Jared Kushner, closely related to former U.S. President Donald Trump as his son-in-law, is turning his attention to the...

European Parliament Passes Groundbreaking AI Law

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, aiming to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of...

European Parliament Members Endorse Western Balkan Reform and Growth Instrument

Members of the European Parliament's committees on foreign affairs and budget have officially adopted a stance on the Western...

CEB Grants €1.3 Billion Loans to Boost Social Sectors in 11 Countries

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has sanctioned loans totaling €1.3 billion for 11 member countries, including Serbia...

Belgrade University Partners with CERN on Future Circular Collider Project

The University of Belgrade has officially become part of CERN's largest scientific endeavor, the Future Circular Collider (FCC) project,...

Kushner Eyes Balkan Luxury Developments in Serbia and Albania

Jared Kushner, closely related to former U.S. President Donald Trump as his son-in-law, is turning his attention to the...

European Parliament Passes Groundbreaking AI Law

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, aiming to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of...

European Parliament Members Endorse Western Balkan Reform and Growth Instrument

Members of the European Parliament's committees on foreign affairs and budget have officially adopted a stance on the Western...
spot_img