Serbia Chooses Europe (For Now)
By Adrian Johnson
15 May 2008
Serbia has once again gone to the polls, and the results have surprised observers. For those advocating a ‘European Serbia’, it is hasty to proclaim a miracle on the Sava River just yet: a coalition still has to be formed. Intriguingly, both pro-EU and nationalist coalitions remain possible. But two conclusions can be drawn. First: Serbian politics are increasingly polarised because of the Kosovo question. A significant portion of the electorate subscribes to the radical nationalist vision of Serbia in the world. Second: the EU must now tread carefully in reconciling the demand of post-conflict justice and handover of war criminals, with the essential carrot of membership negotiations.
15 May 2008
Serbia has once again gone to the polls, and the results have surprised observers. For those advocating a ‘European Serbia’, it is hasty to proclaim a miracle on the Sava River just yet: a coalition still has to be formed. Intriguingly, both pro-EU and nationalist coalitions remain possible. But two conclusions can be drawn. First: Serbian politics are increasingly polarised because of the Kosovo question. A significant portion of the electorate subscribes to the radical nationalist vision of Serbia in the world. Second: the EU must now tread carefully in reconciling the demand of post-conflict justice and handover of war criminals, with the essential carrot of membership negotiations.
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