Published on N1 Website on 22.01.2021

Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW) President Hannes Swoboda told N1 on Friday that Belgrade and Pristina can’t reach an agreement on Kosovo on their own and should have the European Union as a partner.

He said that would be very difficult which is why the EU should offer itself as a partner which could try to resolve the problem. We have to provide support and create links to the EU which is why I think that your problems have to be resolved before you become a part of the EU, he said citing the example of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland who experienced fresh tensions following Brexit.

The MEP said that young generations have to be called to do their part because they are more interested in friendship and liberty.

Asked why the EU is allowing attacks on journalists such as those by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic against N1 TV, Swoboda said that the EU had failed on those issues.

Statements from the EU are often groundless or without any power and it’s very bad that some commissioners in the past failed to explain that freedom of the media is an important element regardless of whether you join the EU or not. According to him, capitalist groups from the West took over the media in Serbia and other countries which, he said, is against European principles but not opposed to European policies. The media are an issue which the EU has neglected for a long time, despite formal declarations, he said.

Swoboda said that Vucic has to be told clearly that what he is doing is unacceptable, adding that the road to the EU is impossible with the autocratic system in place in Serbia.

Picture: Marc Müller