Serbia wciąż na rozdrożu (en translation)

Abstract: After Slobodan Miloševic was overthrown in 2000, it was assumed that democratic parties would efficiently carry out the process of the overall reform which would result in Serbia’s membership in the Euro-Atlantic structures. However, the integration with the EU and NATO did not become the subject of all-party consensus. Against were the parties connected with Miloševic’s regime – the SRS and the SPS which were able to take advantage of social unrest and from 2002 were the largest force in the parliament. Also for the rightist party of Prime Minister Vojislav Koštunica (2004-2008) the defence of territorial integrity and the fight for Kosovo and Montenegro’s further presence within the common state took priority over the fast integration with the EU. These parties were also against fulfilling the main EU condition – co-operation with the Tribunal in the Hague and settling accounts with the previous regime’s crimes. It resulted in the stagnation of the reform process and called into question the European orientation of the Serbian politics. As late as in 2008 in Serbia the government was established which would unambiguously opt for the acceleration of transformation. In consequence, the co-operation with the EU deepened. However, a long-lasting domination of Eurosceptic powers on the political stage had such effects that even this government did not decide to finally solve the problem of Kosovo and to normalise the relations with Pristina. Due to increasing pressure from the EU, for the next time Serbia faces the choice: to defend national interests in Kosovo or to accept the conditions of member states.