“We must prepare for many things”, German MP warns Kosovo and Serbia if Trump comes to power

Twenty years after the European Union's recent major expansion is an opportunity to take a look at German foreign policy during this period, especially in terms of relations with Southeast European countries, most of which expect to join the EU.

Therefore, a lot was discussed in the German Parliament this week, not as usual in commissions or hearings, but in special forums related one way or another to Southeast Europe.

Brnabiq did not attend forums

In his position as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Angela Merkel's first cabinet, Gernot Erler shaped German foreign policy to a considerable extent, even in terms of Southeast Europe. Social Democrat politician was one of those who committed themselves to recognising Kosovo, which, as said politician and Christian-Democratic panelist Peter Beyer, was not self-intelligible in political Berlin.

On the same day and at the same time, the forum, which was held by Serbia's new Parliament Speaker and former Serbian Prime Minister Anna Brnabiq, was visiting the Bundestag building, but she did not participate in activities organised by the Association for Southeast Europe (SOG). .

In addition to Peter Beyer and Manuel Sarrazin, the president of SOG and the German government's special charge of Southeast European affairs, Enver Hoxhaj, deputy chairman of the Kosovo Assembly and former Kosovo Foreign Affairs Minister, attended the forum.

Possible new conflicts in Balkans

Asked by the DW concerning the renewal of armed conflicts in the Balkans, Erler said this option is possible because of the deterioration of relations between Kosovo and Pristina recently. “We also need to keep in mind that it is in Putin's interest to promote a new armed conflict in Europe that would draw attention from the war in Ukraine and represent the worst possible scenario for the West”, Erler said.

Hoxhaj does not think that there could be new conflicts between Kosovo and Serbia as the last one in the 1990s. “But at the same time it should be said that by late on nobody believed there were still soldiers ready to attack NATO soldiers, as happened last year in northern Kosovo”, the former foreign minister warned. He said “Serbia is willing to do much to annex Kosovo's north”.

In his interview with DW Erler several times expresses his surprise at the fact that Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq manages to sell himself as a major supporter of Serbia's membership in the European Union, while on the other hand works in favour of Russia. “I am surprised that Brussels has now decided to conclude negotiations with Georgia due to the adoption of laws favouring Russia, when at the same time Serbia makes much greater concessions to the Kremlin”, Erler said.

Fear of Green and Trump

The forum repeatedly mentioned the issue of changing global relations and influence in Southeast Europe in the event of Donald Trump's recovery. The representative of the Christian-democrats and former rapporteur for the Western Balkans of the Democratist parliamentary group in Bundestag, Peter Beyer, paid attention especially to former Trump Ambassador Berlin and later special White House envoys for negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo Richard Green.

“Grenelli has been constantly in the region and again in recent years under who knows what excuse,” said Beyer, who has been co-ordinator for transatlantic relations in Angela Merkel's government. He expressed fears that if Trump comes back to power, the issue of exchange of territories between Kosovo and Serbia, which the EU and Germany reject as an extremely dangerous option, could again be put to question.

“Trumpi is convinced that if it comes to power, it will end the war in Ukraine in one day and perhaps think it will solve the problem of Serbia and Kosovo. I think we should get ready for a lot of things. And that is not only for Serbia and Kosovo, but also for Bosnia and Herzegovina”, Beyer warned.

Western Balkans on Second Table in Brussels

The forum also discussed the EU's focus on the Western Balkans after the changes in Brussels, because the new composition of the Parliament and the EU Commission can push the Western Balkans into second place.

There is the danger that the new European Parliament Assembly will focus on commissions entirely on Ukraine's problem and turn its back on the Western Balkans. This is dangerous because even in this region there is the risk of fuelling old conflicts and creating new hot spots”, said one of the forum participants, former vice president of the Bulgarian government, Meglena Pugacchieva.

As one of the problems hindering Western Balkan countries towards the EU, pressure on the media is constantly mentioned. This was said several times even at forums held in Bundestag. The problems facing the media spoke of Jabir Memedi Derella, journalist and human rights activist from Northern Macedonia, this year's winner of the Association for Southeast Europe's Solidarity Award (SOG). / DW