Croatian Eurodeput: Kosovo recognition is not enough, Serbia must change attitude towards its neighbours

Croatian Eurodeput Tonino Picaula, after being appointed European Parliament's new rapporteur for Serbia, announced that in assessing Belgrade's progress, he will insist on meeting the requirements posed by candidate countries for Union membership.

On Tuesday, during the plenary session in Strasbourg, Picaula was appointed permanent rapporteur of The EP for Serbia and the next five years will be responsible for all topics dealing with relations between the European Union and Serbia before Parliament.

Picula, who during his mandates has been actively dealing with relations between the Western Balkan countries and the Union, from the media in Serbia to authorities is singled out as Eurodeputs who have a hostile attitude towards Serbia and its appointment as permanent deputy.

The EP rapporteur for Serbia was named as Belgrade's “gitti in the eye”.

In some Serbian media he is often presented as “serbohader”, as well as in some news of his appointment as EP rapporteur, Hina writes.

I have led delegations for relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo in the past 11 years. In my last term, I was also a permanent relator for Montenegro, so I already have some kind of resistance to any unjustified criticism, which may be ideologically or coloured”, according to Picaula.

My “task is first of all to speak with representatives of institutions of a designated country that should do most of the work, because the government is more responsible for the situation in one country. “It is up to me to communicate first of all expectations and analyse what, according to a general assessment, should be done in open conversations with government representatives”, he said.

I suppose the process will be quite complex. However, above all, I have political experience on my side, both European and national, and I will act primarily informed, but also principled”, says Eurodeputet

“and even if we set aside my appointment to that post with all his interpretations, especially in Serbia, it should be said that the European Parliament, out of all three European Union institutions, has always been the most consistent advocate of enlargement policy”, Picula said during the interview for Hina, but also stressed that the “membership process must still be based on meeting the” criteria.

“isn't just knowing Kosovo”

One of the main challenges for Serbia will certainly be harmonising with EU legal values and respecting Brussels' current policy towards the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the MP's office announced.

Picula will prepare reports of the situation in Serbia once a year on behalf of the EP following the presentation of annual European Commission reports.

Serbia received candidate country status in March 2012, and membership negotiations with the EU began in 2014.

So far, 22 out of 35 chapters have been opened, two of which have been provisionally closed.

Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, acknowledged this week that EU-Serbia negotiations are progressing slowly and confirmed that this “not due to the rule of law”.

“If we knew (false state) Kosovo would either impose sanctions on Russia, tomorrow we would become EU member”, Vuciq said.

Although Vuchy rejects such an opportunity as unacceptable, Picula adds that this too would not suffice.

I think these are important elements that would imply that Serbia really changes its attitude towards political processes that are extremely important to her and her neighbours. But of course, besides that, there are a series of elements of specific policies that Serbia must meet on its way to its final goal. We can't reduce to just one, two or three elements that, however important, are not good for”, Picula said.

“has Copenhagen criteria that may not sound spectacular, but are a guide that all other countries have followed. Serbia will have to do the same”, Picaula says.

Copenhagen criteria are requirements that the EU put in candidate countries for membership -- from political ones, such as rule of law, economic and legal -- to bringing about the Union's goals.

Picaula's colleague in the European Parliament and the EP's Foreign Affairs Commission, Davor Ivo Stier of HDZ, congratulations and congratulations on success in his work, praised that Belgrade is clearly up to be listed in foreign policy.

Stier briefly commented on the visits of European leaders to Belgrade, saying that after “all, Picaula will be there very soon as reporter”.

“Dera is open, but Serbia is a sovereign state and has the right to decide whether it wants to be part of the EU. That is its right, but then it must accept all that it involves, including a very clear approach to European foreign and security policy, and that includes, as you know, imposing sanctions on the Russian Federation”, the former Croatian minister said.

You can't say we want to be part of the EU, but we don't want to be part of the West. However, neither the president of the Commission nor the European Parliament rapporteur. It is a decision Belgrade must make”, Stier told Hina.