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Srdjan Majstorovic from the Center for European Policies and Zoran Gavrilovic from the Office of Social Research evaluated in the 360 degree program that Bilchik’s report and the adopted amendments were fully expected, and that it is obvious that our country is moving away from the European Union. in recent years. They said the amendments and the European Parliament resolution calling on Serbia to resolve the Jovanjica, Krusik, Telekom scandals and the demolition in Savamala represent a clear message to Belgrade that “the loan has been exhausted and that Brussels no longer exists.” will squint. the deterioration of the rule, rights and freedoms of the media. “
“The European Union sent a very direct message, in the sense that all the loans have expired, that confidence has been lost, but also that patience has been lost. For the past two years, Serbia has not seemed like a country that is unequivocally committed to progress and accession to the European Union. We have noticed that all the key reforms, which are mainly in the realm of the rule of law, are not moving as fast as they should, “believes Majstorović.
He adds that there are numerous reports that speak of erosion of the degree of democracy in our country, freedom of expression and increase in corruption.
He believes that MEPs wanted to preserve their credibility with the report and distance themselves from what is happening in Serbia.
“They have decided that the phrases that we hear in the European Commission report are now very specific and point to three or four scandals overwhelming the Serbian public.” “Any government with a clear conscience should have no problem mentioning these scandals, but should follow the recommendations,” Majstorović said, adding that it is up to the authorities to demonstrate that legal principles work in our country.
Gavrilovic says that the movements of the European Union are “a sign that Europe has not forgotten about us.”
“It is obvious that what is happening in the last two years is the erosion of the rule of law, that is, what are the elements of the state. In the context of that, I see this as kind of a test, homework, “he said.
He recalled that the previous government also had these kinds of “duties”, that is, 24 cases that needed to be solved and that were inherited by the government headed by Aleksandar Vučić.
“Out of 24 cases, we have a situation where only in the case of the Veterinary Institute, Dragan Đurić obtained a nanogyc for a ridiculous period of time. Impunity is another name for Serbia here,” Gavrilovic noted.
He noted that the European Union wants to check “if we are a state only on paper.”
He recalled one of the biggest scandals, Krushik, and pointed out that the prosecutor was obliged to announce himself in that case.
Majstorović noted that such moves were expected from the European Union (adoption of the EU report), and that he was not surprised by this sequence of events.
“Everyone who is surprised by this development of the situation simply has no contact with reality,” Majstorović emphasized.
He recalled that the SNS has had a continuity in power for almost 10 years, and that after so long it has become “impossible to hide all those failures, crises, as well as the scandals that have occurred.”
Commenting on Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s reaction to the mention of scandals in the European Union, Gavrilović states that Serbia has not had a head of the negotiating team with the EU for two years, and that “Serbia has begun to distance itself from the European Union. . “
“We have a minister of European integration, which is almost non-existent in our follow-up. The issues of European integration were not media issues at all, and considering who has the most influence in the media, that also showed the agenda. The withdrawal from the EU has happened, and now this report and it points out the main problems is something that is great. Secondly, to my knowledge, Vučić is a lawyer, and all lawyers know that the court process indicates whether someone is guilty or not. And the EU has signaled the need to resolve the matter. “Simply arresting something is not proof that someone is guilty,” Gavrilovic said.
He stressed that the institutions in charge of fighting corruption would have to find out how these cases could have occurred.
“Serbia is a state in which the legal system has been suspended and that does not sanction criminal acts of corruption and crime,” Gavrilovic said.
Majstorovic pointed out the peculiarities of the Serbian government, which, although it has the goal of joining the European Union, has ministers who openly oppose the idea.
“It is a phenomenon that is rarely seen in other countries, which are candidates. “I do not believe that Serbia has room at all to strengthen relations with the European Union,” he said, adding that the EU will not tolerate “outbursts and incidents.”
“We live in an age where all the media and all statements are followed, even on social media, and someone will remember who said what. It is very harmful and has no effect in the end. “Serbia is not a member of the EU, but more than 70% of the investments come from the European Union, it is very clear in which direction Serbia is going and on when its economic and other development depends,” Majstorović stressed.
Gavrilovic revealed that BIRODI has been monitoring the central news programs since December.
“The European Union is 15 percent positive, the United States 7.4 percent, Russia 84.3 percent and China 81.8 percent. These are the results of national televisions and H1. We have a tendency to “push” the European Union. The EU and the US are neutrally represented, while Russia and China are positively represented. It is obvious that the issue of vaccines has also become a political issue, and I think it will be a serious electoral issue, “Gavrilovic said.
Majstorović noted that the amendments to the Bilčik report clearly state that Serbia must explain to the citizens without reservation who is our main donor and who provides the largest amount of foreign direct investment.
“It is the European Union.” During the pandemic alone, about 3.3 billion were allocated for all the countries of the Western Balkans, “Majstorovic recalls.
“However, when you ask citizens, due to the flood of news (about China and Russia), you get the impression that Serbia’s priorities are on the other side, while in reality it is different,” he notes.
Majstorović stressed that the main question for the government of this country is why the EU, which has helped and invested so much, “prefers loans that we will repay in years.”
Commenting on the negotiations between the government and the opposition, Gavrilovic says that the opposition’s demands and what the government is thinking are “two separate rivers”.
“In this political and media environment, I really don’t see the space that is possible for an agreement,” he said.
Speaking about the media and the upcoming elections, Majstorovic said that the issue of the functionality of independent media and the opening of the media to appearances by opposition parties would remain the focus of the European Union’s attention.
“The freedom of the media, the functioning and the economic pressures on the media will be monitored by the EU,” Majstorovic said.
Speaking of REM’s decision to put H1 under supervision, he recalled that this institution has doubts about the legality, as well as that it has been operating for six years according to the Statute, which has not been verified by the Serbian Parliament.
“Is REM working legally?” It is good that they are following up, but the methodology used by REM is configured not to measure anything and is not harmonized with the ODIHR R methodology. If they do it again, it will be an abuse of REM ”, concluded Gavrilović.
