Serbian Foreign Policy and the Possibility of Cooperation within the Western Balkan Region
Recent surveys indicate that public support for the Serbian Progressive Party (SPP), which split from the Serb Radical Party last fall, has grown steadily, and is now at the heels of the Democratic Party, which leads the current government. SPP Party leader Aleksandar Vucic, explained the young party's foreign policy strategy at a 乐鱼 体育 noon discussion.
As a party that is made up not only of ex-Radicals but also of people who have previously never found a home among Serbia's political parties, the SPP has become the largest opposition entity in the country, and continues to gain popularity. Vucic stated that one of the party's highest policy goals is to improve relations with the European Union, the United States, and other neighbors, while preserving Serbia's respect for international law and the country's vital national interests. The SPP's policy endeavors to change the foreign policy dynamics of the country which, Vucic said, will "no longer be simply about Kosovo."
Domestic problems and stagnation in the completion of reforms have given rise to popular discontent, especially among the youth, a segment of the population which suffers disproportionately from unemployment and many representatives of which have never traveled outside of Serbia. To that end, Vucic advocated that domestic policies follow external guidelines in order to create conditions for economic development and combat corruption and institutional reform. In the speaker's view, without these reforms, Serbia will be unable to attract adequate foreign investment required to address the country's economic problems.
As a leader in the Western Balkan region, Vucic contended that Serbia needs to improve its relations with the United States, and follow the European Union's pragmatic approach. Nevertheless, Vucic noted that these relationships cannot come at the cost of Serbia's territorial integrity, and that no Serbian government鈥攏o matter which party is in power鈥攚ould recognize an independent Kosovo.
Drafted by Nida Gelazis, Program Associate, East European Studies
Event Sponsors
Speakers
Hosted By
Global Europe Program
The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe鈥檚 capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe鈥檚 relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include 鈥淯kraine in Europe鈥濃攁n examination of what it will take to make Ukraine鈥檚 European future a reality. But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe鈥檚 energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program鈥檚 staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media. Read more