Serbia showing sympathy for Kremlin, bringing Serbian leadership is irritating

According to Mandl, Russian disinfectants in Europe aim to divide and weaken Europe and Europeans.

“One of the findings of our Special Parliamentary Commission (European Parliament) was that 60% of foreign dezinforms and interventions originated in the Kremlin. This is an effect that harms our societies, meant to divide and weaken Europe, weaken Europeans. I would say that the EU has lost much in the six countries of the Western Balkans. We have lost many opportunities to include the six Western Balkan countries in the European Union. We must accelerate now because losing these possibilities means leaving the door open for influence from outside Europe, from powers that do not share the values that Europe represents as values cited as liberal democracy, rule of law and individual freedom for each person. Also, the Kremlin has a lot of influence in the Western Balkans and always tries to divide us here, misuse subjects, governing organs and other public subjects, even business subjects. And it also has a connection with organised crime. That's exactly what we shouldn't let that happen.

As for Serbia, the eurodeputet has indicated that this country is losing all opportunities to be on the right side.

“Since the beginning of the war, Serbia is showing sympathy for the Kremlin and is still threatening its smaller neighbouring state, the Republic of Kosovo, Europe's newest state. The Serbian leadership is greatly distressed. This is extremely irritating and depressing. On March 1st, the European Parliament has decided on a resolution showing “deep concern” for Serbia's position against sanctions. The resolution has been adopted by a large majority. I share this concern with this overwhelming majority of my colleagues in the European Parliament. The behaviour of the Serbian leadership is irritating, especially since the EU has been Serbia's biggest donor for decades and the EU has counted Serbia as a membership candidate country. As long as everything has been given, Serbia has positioned itself on the wrong side of history at this time. That is why Serbia plays a negative role in the Western Balkans at the moment. I always share my clear view that Serbia can play for the Western Balkans the role Germany plays for all of Europe. Germany is large and economically strong. Serbia is not that big, but it is the biggest country in the Western Balkans. Serbia is far from economically strong as Germany, but still is the strongest country among the six Western Balkan countries. It would be something to take responsibility for future opportunities for wealth, for young people, for prospects in the field of education for young people in all Western Balkan countries, for getting closer and building more trust among the countries of the Western Balkans, but Serbia is losing all opportunities to be on the right side, for its citizens. I want to share this very important view since we talk about these values and these opportunities and these future prospects, we also talk about the future prospects of the citizens of Serbia. Clearly, Serbia's leadership plays another game. And it's actually a terrible game”, Mandl said among other things.

Mandl is also asking about northern Mitrovics and Republika Srpska.

“I will always contribute to an international community of free world, which continues to care for the security of Kosovo, for the sovereignty of Kosovo, and that is why I hope we avoid more tensions and violence of any kind. I still hope that Serbia will walk on a positive path and will open the door to itself and six Western Balkan countries for membership in the EU”, as long as it has spoken of visa liberalisation for Kosovo.

Eurodeput Lucas Mandl: That's clear: The European Commission has decided that all criteria that were set to gain visa liberalisation for the people of Kosovo have been met. The European Parliament has sometimes decided by large that it would be for visa liberalisation. There is still a small minority of member states governments blocking visa-free travel for the people of Kosovo. Many colleagues like me run every day and try to convince decisionmakers in these member states who build this small minority of member states that are blocking. This is among the things not only late but also very late. In a greater light, the European Union must be restructured. Fighting aggression against Ukraine was a wake-up call that we should take more care of Europe's forces from abroad, for Europe's security, for the safety of all Europeans, whether they are EU or European citizens who are not yet EU citizens. Also in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, but especially in the Western Balkans, where people have been waiting for many decades now for EU integration and EU standards. As mentioned, the EU has lost many opportunities to include the Western Balkans and must do so now, as soon as possible. /The Geopost