Dragan Shormaz, former ally of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and President of the Euro-Atlantic Council, claims that Vučić’s foreign policy is the worst thing he has done for Serbia. He predicts that the entire region will be part of the European Union by 2030, solely due to political decisions from Brussels.
“We cannot deny that there have been some results in macroeconomic policy, employment policy, and investments. It would have been better if we were a NATO member,” Shormaz stated during a series of interviews with FoNet.
The EU Ambassador to Serbia, Emanuele Ziofre, recently remarked that Serbia would need 70 years to reach the EU average at its current economic development pace, a fact Shormaz recalls, emphasizing that geography is Vučić’s biggest problem.
He argued that if Serbia were to align closely with Russia, the situation would be worse than under Lukashenko, and Serbia would be at war in Ukraine on Russia’s behalf.
“Thank God we are not limited by Russia and are in the position we are in,” Shormaz stressed, adding that Serbia should not make any more mistakes, as “only a fool trips over the same stone twice.”
According to him, Serbia must recognize its place in the EU and NATO, as geography dictates.
Regarding the decision for four ministers to attend the BRICS summit instead of Vučić, Shormaz stated that the only correct decision would have been for no one from Serbia to attend Kazan.
“Serbia is a candidate for EU membership and has no business being there,” he emphasized, explaining that the war in Ukraine has made it clear that Vučić’s policy is untenable.
Shormaz believes that Serbia’s policy must be clearly Euro-Atlantic oriented, as a wall is being erected against Russia in the security structure and everything happening in Europe.
“I don’t know how the war in Ukraine will end and where the border between Ukraine and Russia will be drawn, but where there is a border, there will be a wall. That’s why the political decision for EU enlargement in 2030 was made,” Shormaz said.
When asked about the election of Croatian MEP Tonino Picula as the rapporteur for Serbia, he responded that it was a good choice because he is not an ally of electoral theft or unfree media; he is honest and incorruptible.
He also believes that with the appointment of Kaja Kallas as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, pressure on Serbia will increase to impose sanctions on Russia and to clearly and publicly support Ukraine.
Speaking about Kosovo, Shormaz stated that Vučić is stuck in the mud over the Banjska case.
“After the elections in Kosovo, my assessment, and I won’t say knowledge, is that by 2025 everything will be finalized. In 2025, the Statute will be adopted, local elections will be held, and the Association of Serbian-Majority Municipalities will be formed,” he predicted.
According to him, Vučić will only need to sign a legally binding agreement for the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, a commitment made by Belgrade in the Brussels Agreement of 2013.
“This will be the de facto recognition of Kosovo, and I want it to happen because it is good for Serbia. It will open the door for us to join the EU as quickly as possible,” Shormaz believes.
