Vilimsky: Only Serbia a Potential Candidate for EU Membership, We Don't Need Kosovo

The lead candidate of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) for the upcoming European Parliament elections, Harald Vilimsky, currently sees only Serbia as a potential candidate for membership in the European Union, while regarding Kosovo, he believes that it should not become part of the Union. He says that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is criticized because he is pursuing the correct policy in the interest of his citizens.

Vilimsky strongly condemns attacks on Serbs, as well as on monasteries and churches of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The head of the FPO delegation in the European Parliament also notes that, among the member states, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is the most criticized, and among the countries on the path to the EU, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is the most criticized because both are pursuing the correct policy of cooperation and in the interest of their countries' citizens.

"Currently, I see only Serbia as a potential candidate for EU membership. However, two conditions need to be met for this. The first is that the citizens of Serbia themselves want to join. Therefore, I would not advise that the decision on membership be made without a vote. The second condition is that Serbia meets the Copenhagen criteria," Vilimsky told for Kosovo Online.

The head of the FPO delegation in the European Parliament emphasized that the EU enlargement process could only encompass Serbia.

His advice to Serbia is to preserve its independence and not to subordinate itself to the "rainbow policy" of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and others.

He mentions that if Serbia wants to become an EU member, he would support and welcome it.

He criticizes that leaders who advocate for their countries are criticized within the European Union itself.

"If you look at the EU, the leader who is most criticized is Viktor Orban. If you consider the peoples and states waiting for EU membership, like Serbia, then Aleksandar Vucic is certainly the most criticized. Both are pursuing the correct policy, a policy in the interest of their citizens and a policy of cooperation. I welcome such a policy and would welcome if Serbia became part of the EU," Vilimsky stressed.

According to him, Serbia is "part of the normal states" which would be a good ally in fighting against the "madness that exists in many parts of the Union" by joining the EU.

Regarding Kosovo, he emphasizes that he understands why Serbia considers it its core.

He strongly condemns the destruction and desecration of monasteries and churches of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo.

"I condemn the mistreatment of the Serbian population, which is currently the case. I believe we should positively discuss the rights of Serbs in Kosovo, as well as Serbia's role as a protector of the Serbian people. Actions must be taken accordingly, and Serbia can be a protector of Serbs in Kosovo. For me, Kosovo is a state that we do not need in the EU," Vilimsky said.

Regarding the current geopolitical situation, Vilimsky criticizes the disrespect for Austria's stance on neutrality.

"I am convinced that the majority of Austrian citizens do not want to give up neutrality. Neutrality in Austria is sacred, there is a consensus that it must not be abandoned. But, what is happening now, that we are letting military convoys and military material, as well as money for buying arms pass through our country, is something that must be condemned," he stated.

Therefore, he says, the FPO wants the upcoming elections to be a kind of referendum on revitalizing neutrality, although he is aware that in the current situation, it is not easy for neutral countries.

"Of course, it's not easy to be neutral. But, if others accept that you stick to your neutrality, as Switzerland does, then it must be respected. At the start of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, both at the level of the European Parliament and in Austria, I called for a return to the policy of Bruno Kreisky, the tradition of offering Vienna, as the host city of the UN and the OSCE, as a place for negotiations. We have always been someone who united peoples and states, and who provided space for negotiations," Vilimsky reminded.

He also points to the importance of the upcoming European elections, which will be held from June 6 to June 9.

"These elections are of great significance because they decide on the future of Europe – whether to continue with the aspiration to establish a centralist authority or to move towards a better future through enabling more direct democracy and returning competencies to the member states, as well as achieving a union of friends in Europe. And, Serbia is a friend and part of the European family," said Vilimsky.

He stated that freedom parties and right-wing parties want a "positive reform" of the EU.

"Citizens of all 27 member states will decide whether to continue further, down the path of von der Leyen's centralism, support for the war in Ukraine, or down the path of peace, returning sovereignty to the members. Only in the latter case, if we return to peace, Europe would have a patriotic future, as Charles de Gaulle imagined when he spoke of 'Europe of fatherlands', and it wouldn't be the centralist Europe of von der Leyen," said Vilimsky.