Brandstatter to N1: I want Serbia in EU

Austrian MEP Helmut Brandstätter told N1 on Thursday that he wants to see Serbia become a member of the European Union, but warned that significant changes are needed before that happens.

According to him, Serbia’s deep social polarization is one of the country’s biggest challenges. He said EU membership requires respect for democratic rights, including the ability of citizens and students to protest peacefully without fear of violence or intimidation.

Brandstätter said Serbia must meet the same standards that apply to all candidate countries, because EU enlargement is based on merit and adherence to common rules.

He criticized the absence of Serbia’s pro-European opposition from a recent meeting in Strasbourg between representatives of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party and members of the European Parliament, calling it a missed opportunity for dialogue. In his view, discussions involving all political actors are essential for addressing issues such as media freedom and democratic governance.

He lent support to the idea of a roundtable involving media owners, editors, civil society organizations, government officials, and opposition politicians to discuss the state of the media and journalists’ rights.

The Austrian MEP said that reforms to Serbia’s judicial laws are a condition to release suspended funds, although the final decision rests with the European Commission. He also argued that Serbians should be clearly informed when development funding comes from the EU rather than domestic sources.