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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...

Dr Srećko Đukić, Ambassador, Forum For International Relations Of The European Movement In Serbia

China Is Becoming What The EU Should Be

Belgrade and Brussels have been partners for decades, but the credit of those relations has been spent. The U.S. remains on the Western side of Serbian foreign policy, which continues to control its levers, bringing to an end the remaining “hotspots” in a way that tells Serbia that Washington doesn’t want Belgrade to remain an enemy in the Balkan milieu.

The pandemic and Serbia’s foreign policy have been shown to have a strong mutual connection. Specifically, Serbia’s foreign policy hasn’t been directed one-way for a long time, nor is it linked to the European ship and European values. That policy has for many years been three-pronged, and those prongs are not of equal length. China’s arrival in Serbia changes its foreign policy vector. China is becoming what the EU was supposed to be – ubiquitous, present in every economic, financial and defence segment of the country. On the foreign policy scale, it has been pushing against the European Union, which has officially been Serbia’s “first foreign policy priority” since 2000. It is also leaving in its wake our “fraternal” Russia, demonstrating just what Chinese money can do! It is like Serbia is again overlooking the Berlin Wall.

The Chinese economic boom in Serbia has not been able to bring to the country European democratic and political standards, as the required value system. It found itself in a fierce conflict with them, with the EU, in regressing away from EU membership. This cannot help but be strikingly reflected in the reports of the European Parliament, and other reputable institutions around the world, regarding the catastrophic state of democracy and freedoms in Serbian society.

Chinese soft diplomacy in Serbia, or Russian, is the fruit of the daily work of the Serbian side and the creation of the positive mood of public opinion in favour of China and Russia

Stumbling on the European path, Serbia has not had the opportunity to expend its patience. It doesn’t show the least bit of enthusiasm, commitment and urgency with the aim of gaining membership in the Union as soon as possible. Serbian polices are de facto leading to fruitless disputes and discussions with Brussels on key issues related to membership, seeking a kind of privileged status on that path. Belgrade and Brussels have been partners for decades; they are not at the beginning of mutual relations, and the credit has been spent.

On the western side of Serbian foreign policy, the U.S. is decisively regulating the post-Yugoslav space, continuing to exert control with its levers, bringing to an end the remaining “hotspots”. The U.S.’s reasonable and gradual treatment of Serbia demonstrates that Washington doesn’t want Belgrade to remain an enemy in the Balkan milieu. That’s how we should read the political, economic and other messages coming to Belgrade from across the ocean. On the other hand, American “soft diplomacy” has not received adequate support and promotion. However, that’s a matter of Serbian presentation and not just an American issue.

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...

Scholz Champions Western Balkans’ Path to Membership

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Slovenia, advocated for quickening the EU accession for the Western Balkans, underlining the importance...

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...

Scholz Champions Western Balkans’ Path to Membership

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Slovenia, advocated for quickening the EU accession for the Western Balkans, underlining the importance...

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...

Scholz Champions Western Balkans’ Path to Membership

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in Slovenia, advocated for quickening the EU accession for the Western Balkans, underlining the importance...

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...
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