Starovic: Serbia’s red lines are very clear and there can be no changes

Serbia’s red lines are very clear, and there can be and will be no changes when it comes to alignment with the EU’s foreign policy, Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starovic said in an interview with Vecernje Novosti.

Asked whether the path toward the European Union is conditioned on abandoning Serbia’s own foreign policy, as well as Kosovo and Metohija, Starovic was clear:

“As I have said, Serbia’s red lines are very clear, and there can be and will be no changes as long as the policy directed and symbolized by President Aleksandar Vucic has the majority support of our people. As for alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, it is our obligation to gradually raise the level of alignment until the day we become a full-fledged EU member state. We adhere to that, and over the past year we have increased that rate by around fifteen percentage points, despite the fact that we have not joined a single package of sanctions against the Russian Federation,” the minister emphasized.

Although no new negotiating chapters have been opened over the past four years, Starovic says he would not agree with the assessment that Serbia’s EU integration process has been frozen.

“Namely, we are implementing our Reform Agenda at a satisfactory pace and, accordingly, drawing funds from the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans. Last year Serbia became part of SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area, we are developing green corridors and participating in many initiatives through which we are integrating into the European market. Unfortunately, all of this has not been recognized through the formal opening of Cluster 3 due to opposition from certain member states, despite a positive recommendation from the European Commission, which is the only body authorized to assess whether Serbia deserves it,” Starovic said in an interview with Vecernje Novosti.

He believes that the predominant responsibility for the current state of relations between Serbia and the EU does not lie with official Belgrade.

“Relations between Serbia and the EU are regulated by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, as well as our negotiating framework in the accession process. In that sense, there is a healthy working and partnership relationship with numerous people within the EU administration. As for members of the European Parliament, there are a total of 720 of them and most do not deal with Serbia. When it comes to conditionality, I think it is already clear to everyone what the red lines are that Serbia cannot cross, which define our struggle to defend territorial integrity, based on the principles of military neutrality and political independence,” the minister stressed.

Asked how sustainable the policy of “balancing” between the EU, Russia and China is in realistic terms, the minister said he believes that the foreign policy Serbia has pursued for more than the past ten years is well thought out, based on firm principles and therefore predictable, and that it has stood the test of time by delivering tangible results.

“I have no doubt that many in certain member states expect a change in the main direction of Serbia’s foreign policy, but I am not at all sure that even such a change would open the path toward accelerated EU membership. Just look at the example of North Macedonia, for which even joining NATO, changing the constitutional name of the state, and meeting numerous other demands did not help unlock the path toward EU membership,” Starovic said.

Asked whether Serbia has a clear “plan B” and what the alternative to EU membership would be if European integration remains blocked for another five or ten years, Starovic said that the EU represents the natural framework for Serbia’s further development.

“That is a reality stemming from our history, geographical position, the interconnectedness of economic structures, and the need to ensure that the 21st century finally becomes a century of peace for our people. We must also understand that we would not have been able to achieve significant results in economic development, infrastructure construction, and raising citizens’ living standards over the past decade had we not been on the path toward EU membership throughout that time. I therefore do not believe there is a credible alternative to continuing Serbia’s integration into the EU. With full understanding for all the disappointments, and even bitterness, that many people justifiably feel due to the hypocrisy and double standards we are often exposed to, I believe that political decision-makers have no right to an emotional approach and must act responsibly toward the future of the state and the nation,” the Minister for European Integration concluded.