THE EU, GERMANY AND SERBIA: GEOSTRATEGIC INTERESTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN DEMOCRATIZATION
THE EU, GERMANY AND SERBIA: GEOSTRATEGIC INTERESTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN DEMOCRATIZATION

Summary/Abstract: The coming of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) to power (2012) enjoyed wide public support (by the academic community, civil sector and media). However, the support given to it by the West’s international community was even more important. Namely, it received assurances from the SNS leaders (Tomislav Nikolić and Aleksandar Vučić) that they switched to Euro-Atlantic integration. The West believed that the “shift” of the SNS towards the centre of the political spectrum was a guarantee for Serbia’s European orientation. Such an attitude of the West towards Serbia stems from the fact that Serbia is perceived as the central country in the Western Balkans and the factor of (in)stability in the region. In this connection the key roles were played by Germany and the United States. As the most important EU country as well as due to its strategic and economic interests in the region, Germany played a dominant role during the last two decades.

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