Analysis
Politics
Unlocked
Polish President Unlikely to Block Tusk’s Appointment as PM
1 December 2023
There are precedents for the EU to act as a broker of peace; allowing (potential) member states to solve considerable, eruptive issues with neither country losing face. Why the EU is unable to use similar tactics in the Western Balkans and make use of its considerable influence is an ongoing question, but if they don’t, Russia’s influence in the region will certainly grow.
The first thing one notices when entering Belgrade is a huge billboard proudly depicting the intertwined flags of Serbia and Russia. The billboard is financed by Gazprom, which together with other Russian companies, controls almost the entire oil and gas sector in Serbia.
In stark contrast to other European capitals during the spring of 2022, world media circulated photos of a pro-Russian demonstration occurring on the streets of Belgrade complete with Russian flags, Orthodox symbols and the ominous “Z”. If we were to add the fact that a poll in March 2021, for the first time ever, estimated that more than 50 per cent of Serbian citizens do not wish to see their country join the European Union, we could reach a conclusion that Serbia is dramatically altering its political course and straying away from EU. But, we would be mistaken.
Photos from tonight's pro-Russia protests in Belgrade. Placards with the letter Z, now synonymous with the invasion, the black-yellow-white "first state flag" used by the Russian far-right and a WWII-era Chetnik flag used by the ultranationalists in Serbia all seen in the crowd. pic.twitter.com/5FYD3kxXRx
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