Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Srđan Darmanović, said in “Živa istina” (translated “Whole truth” ) that the EU enlargement was a two-way process and it depended a lot on the political circumstances within the Union. Asked if specific statements made my PM Marković and Vice-President of the Government, Mr Zoran Pažin, alluded to some sort of objections to the objectivity of the last EC Progress Report, Mr Darmanović said that nobody was dissatisfied with the Report.
“We’re not discussing the Report at all. It’s one of the processes that the EC implements regularly. We appreciate criticism. We are the ones who are supposed to show results as we want to join the club. The Report is pretty balanced and slightly better than the last year’s. No area has recorded stagnation. We know what we want and the EU is supposed to know what it wants when it comes to the Balkans”, says Mr Darmanović.
Mr Darmanović commented on the statement made by Mr Aivo Orav who said that comprehensive reform of electoral framework was a must. Mr Darmanović said it required the engagement of both the government and the opposition.
“Electoral legislation is a thing of inter-party consensus. Both sides must sit at the same table and negotiate. Otherwise, the progress is impossible”, said Mr Darmanović.
New composition of the European Parliament and European Commission isn’t unfavorable for the enlargement policy.
“Pro-European parties got the majority. The only real change was the fragmentation of political center. The composition of the Commission will be more diverse. Liberals and the Greens have undoubtedly become stronger”, said Mr Darmanović.
In his opinion, if the EU turns out to be incapable of formulating faster and more decisive enlargement policy, then many countries will be faced with the same question – what is going to happen next?
“I don’t think that’s going to happen. European leaders won’t give up on the policy that has brought so many positive things. If that does happen however, it will provoke geopolitical movements and the stagnation of the region”, said Mr Darmanović.
What is the real influence that Russia has on the election process in the EU?
“Tactics and the strategy of hybrid warfare entail the influence on the circumstances in other countries. Undermining democracy is part of such strategy. NATO isn’t Russia’s main target, it’s the EU”We know what we want , says Mr Darmanović.
