The electorate’s shift to the right won’t change the nature and essence of the idea of the European Union, and thus neither will it change the continued political, economic and even security connections of its member states, nor the values of liberal democracy that they inherit
The European Union is too enduring and serious as a geopolitical project for the direction of its development and the values that form its foundations to be changed after just one European Parliament election. With due respect to this institution, which is primarily characterised by its full democratic legitimacy, the main levels of political decision-making at the level of the entire Union will remain in the hands of the Council of Ministers of the European Union and the European Council.
There is absolutely no doubt that right-wing options are expecting to achieve good results in the upcoming European Parliament elections, and that includes the radical right, also known as the extreme/far right, because it has now become traditional for these elections to serve as an opportunity for voters to punish the ruling political parties in their own countries, which they aren’t inclined to do to such an extent in national parliamentary elections.
Thus, alongside the increasing certainty of victory for the European People’s Party, I also expect outstanding results to be achieved by European conservatives and reformists, as supported by the favourable election results and positive ratings of parties like the People’s Party and Vox in Spain, the Swedish Democrats in Sweden, the Italian Brothers in Italy etc. However, this won’t change the nature and essence of the idea of the European Union, which is the prevention of any armed conflict on its territory, followed by the continuation of the political, economic and security connecting of its member states, as well as the values of liberal democracy that they inherit.
The EU will continue – on the basis of its own interests – to be of the opinion that it is necessary to retain the Western Balkans in its own political and economic orbit
If they form a coalition government, these parties could insist on more stringent immigration regulations, pro-family policies etc., but nothing will bring into question the issues of internal cohesion and foreign policy and security priorities, specifically the strong link with the U.S. and NATO, as well as a distinctly anti-Russian position.
I don’t expect any significant change in the EU’s attitude towards Serbia following these elections. European integration will, on the one hand, continue to be the top foreign policy imperative of our country, while the EU will continue – on the basis of its own interests – to be of the opinion that it is necessary to retain the Western Balkans in its own political and economic orbit, particularly in the context of the intensifying conflicts afflicting several world hotspots. Every change to the EU’s political structures is exceptionally important for Serbia, primarily in an economic sense, because we’re talking about a grouping of countries that together form our country’s most important trade partner, but then also its top political and security partner, given the EU’s crucial mediating role in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
