Picula: Serbia must renounce the "Serbian World" and the destabilization of neighboring countries

(Patria) - European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia, Croatian MEP Tonino Picula, stated yesterday that Serbia would have to renounce the concept of "Serbian World" and the destabilization of neighboring countries.

- It seems to me that, for its future in the EU, Serbia would first and foremost have to renounce the concept of "Serbian World" and the destabilization of neighboring countries over which it has influence through political options and the Orthodox Church - Picula told N1 Croatia.

When asked about the meetings between the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and EU leaders, Picula said it was good that meetings with the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council had taken place, emphasizing that Vučić had a series of meetings with almost all relevant officials in the EU and NATO.

- After five months of avoiding clarity in describing what is happening in Serbia, it is high time that clear political messages be communicated to him from the highest levels, messages different from those that have alienated a large number of Serbian citizens from the EU - Picula pointed out.

He assessed it as indicative that EU flags cannot be seen at protests in Serbia, but Romanian flags can, drawing attention to European prosecutor Laura Kövesi as a symbol of the fight against corruption, which is the basis of the protests in Serbia.

- (Ursula) Von der Leyen, in this complex geopolitical situation, must find a way to obtain clear guarantees that the region will not be destabilized, but also that Serbia will respect its own obligations, which would imply that by 2026 it will be synchronized with the EU's legal acquis - Picula stated.

Asked about Vučić's claim to European representatives that a "sound cannon" was not used at the mass protest in Belgrade, Picula replied that this issue should not be closed.

- I think the EU's messages to Vučić are equally strong and loud, not only that what happened should be investigated, but also that with its current domestic and foreign policy, it cannot get closer to the EU - Picula added.

Although he emphasized that the government in Serbia is elected by its citizens, Picula pointed out that the EU should retain the right to assess how well it adheres to its obligations on the accession path to the EU.

He stated that there is an additional set of problems, such as alignment with the EU's common security and foreign policy, and Serbia is still the only country on the European path that has not yet taken any sanctions against Russia.

When asked to comment on the attacks by Serbian tabloids, of which he is a frequent target, Picula replied that Vučić had been extremely critical of his work even before he was appointed EP rapporteur for Serbia.

- He talked about my origins, political affiliations, but that is alibi politics - Picula said.

He assessed that many problems of stagnation are much older than his appointment, and concluded that the regime in Serbia has often failed to fulfill what it promised.