Mihailo Brkić, Vice President of the Serbia Center (SRCE) party and former diplomat, assesses that tomorrow’s debate within the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee will reveal significant regression regarding the rule of law in Serbia.
The upcoming debate in the European Parliament’s (EP) Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) regarding the adoption of the progress report on Serbia is expected to be highly dynamic, according to former diplomat Mihailo Brkić. Speaking during an appearance on N1 television, Brkić emphasized that European lawmakers will likely confront the reality that Serbia has backslid in key democratic areas.
Brkić highlighted the state of the rule of law as the core issue that has become increasingly prominent over the last few years.
“The rule of law simply cannot receive a positive assessment,” Brkić stated, in a press release issued by his party. “It has weakened in recent years instead of strengthening. The country is not moving in the direction of European integration, but rather in the opposite direction.”
He further noted that the geopolitical landscape within the European Union has become significantly more complex over the past 18 months, which explains why EU institutions currently tolerate governance issues in Belgrade that would otherwise face immediate censure.
EP Committee to Vote on Balkan and Eastern Partnership Reports
The AFET Committee is scheduled to vote in Brussels on the Serbia progress report, compiled by the EP Rapporteur for Serbia, Tonino Picula.
During the same session, the committee will also vote on progress reports for several other nations in the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership:
- Western Balkans: Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia.
- Eastern Partnership: Ukraine and Moldova.
Economic Focus: New US Ambassador Nominee Michael Young
When asked about the nomination of Michael Young as the next United States Ambassador to Serbia, Brkić described him as a highly experienced career diplomat who played a foundational role in the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Brkić viewed this appointment as a strategic move by Washington, indicating deep-seated American interests in the region.
“This is a man who is exceptionally well-versed in global economic institutions and trends,” Brkić concluded. “His presence could be a positive signal that America has serious economic interests here. He could play an interesting role in helping to untangle the knot Serbia faces as a non-WTO member.”
