Serbia: NGOs voice concerns over integration processes

A group of leading nongovernmental organizations in Serbia, led by European Movement in Serbia, expressed, in an open letter to the highest elected bodies in the country, its concerns and fears regarding the emphasized distancing of Serbia from integration processes.

The NGOs emphasize the rising number of incidents in relations with the neighbouring countries, as well as frequent threats to leave some of the most important integration arrangements created, with great effort, in the years after the democratic changes in Serbia.

– We are very concerned over the fact that the country caused unnecessary tensions in the relations with the EU, threatening the realization of one of the key priority of state policies, says the Open letter addressed to President Tadic, Prime Minister Kostunica, Speaker of Parliament Dulic, and all parliamentary parties.

The signatories of the letter wonder if Serbia can really afford to give up the political, organization, technical and financial assistance it gets from the EU, its European perspectives and the stable, balanced and tested framework of cooperation with 27 countries, including almost all of her key economic and political partners and allies.

Public opinion polls conducted in the past seven years show that about two-thirds of the citizens would choose European future, primarily to secure perspectives for the younger generations. It doesn?t mean that the citizens are not aware that relations with EU have had their good and bad times, that integration is a complex process that comes with a price-tag, and that it disregards the fact that Serbia should maintain and develop good rapport with other international partners, primarily Russia and China.

– We are convinced that the clear political will in Serbia and EU, likewise, and the convincing action plan do help the consolidation of international and regional position of Serbia and contribute to improved implementation of accepted international and regional obligations, says the Open letter.

We want to give our voice of support to your efforts to turn Serbia into a stable, prosperous and respected country, which will build a position of successful EU member state that shares European values and respects its own heritage.

The full text of the Open Letter is available at the following link (in Serbian).