Archive / Policy Brief
Serbia: turning the corner at last?
13/01/2009 By Judy Batt
Despite widespread deep resentment at the recognition of Kosovo by a majority of EU member states, the electoral bloc ‘For a European Serbia’ led by Tadic’s Democratic Party outstripped the Radicals at the parliamentary elections held in Serbia in May 2008.
Nonetheless, the long-awaited formation of a ‘pro-European’ government in Serbia has not served to fulfil hopes for an acceleration of EU integration. The implementation of the EU’s Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia, signed in April 2008, is hindered by Serbia’s failure to fulfil the EU condition of full cooperation with the ICTY. In addition, the Kosovo issue is a continual source of friction, as the basic tenets of the policy of President Tadic and his Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic follow the same lines as the previous Kostunica government – namely, that Kosovo remains part of Serbia.
In this policy brief, Judy Batt examines the prospects for Serbia becoming more than a candidate for EU membership in the year ahead and foresees a gloomy picture. The fact that the present government is seeking active international engagement for Serbia rather than retreating into the embittered self-isolation of the previous government can be considered a chink of light. But is President Tadic’s promise to Serbia that it can have both Kosovo and the EU really viable?
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Keywords
Kosovo Kosovo SerbiaBio author: Judy Batt
Western Balkans. Serbia. Kosovo. Bosnia and Herzegovina. Russia. Central and South-East European politics. International security.
