Austrian MEP Lukas Mandl has criticized Serbia’s leadership for acting aggressively in the Western Balkans and failing to confront its past. Mandl emphasized that Serbia has the potential to be an economic engine for the region, contributing to the development of the entire area. However, he expressed disappointment that the country’s institutional leadership is not fulfilling this potential.
Speaking at the Universal Peace Federation conference, which focused on “Peace, Stability, and Demographic Transition in the Western Balkans,” the Austrian politician stressed that the region can only progress through cooperation, not conflict.
“Serbia could be like Germany in the Western Balkans—an economic powerhouse. Serbia has the capability to contribute to the well-being of its citizens and then to the broader region. Many people in Serbia are doing just that, but the country’s leadership is not. They are behaving aggressively by refusing to come to terms with their past,” Mandl said.
Mandl underscored the necessity of reforms in the six Western Balkan countries as a prerequisite for strategic investment and European integration.
“More cooperation than confrontation, more collaboration than conflict—that must be the central goal in the Western Balkans. Investments are needed, with less bureaucracy, more opportunities, and the rule of law. I know the prospects for investment in Kosovo and the region will increase significantly. A strong educational and healthcare system is essential for proper development. Reforms are needed in all the Western Balkan states,” added Mandl.
The conference also featured a speech from Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, who highlighted Kosovo’s growing role as a leader in economic and democratic progress in the region, with a promising trajectory for both the present and future.
Former Albanian President Alfred Moisiu, who was also present, referred to the September 24th attack in Banjska, where officer Afrim Bunjaku was killed. Moisiu stressed that this attack was directly orchestrated by Belgrade.
