A vote for Europe

“It is through strong participation” in the presidential election that “the Serbians have not only re-elected Boris Tadic, but also granted his support to the country’s bent for Europe”. Hans-Gert Poettering comments the result of the election that took place in Serbia. In this way, adds the president of the European Parliament, “the voters expressed the fact they feel they belong to the European family”. This matches Belgrade’s pro-European perspective “and does justice to the country’s important role in the Western Balkan region”. From the Brussels Commission, president José Manuel Barroso congratulates Tadic: the election, he highlights, “saw democracy and the European values that we share win in Serbia”. Referring indirectly to the situation of Kosovo, Barroso adds: “This victory comes at a critical time” for the country and “for the Western Balkans. I am confident Serbia will keep playing an effective role in facing the current challenges and ensuring stability in the region”.According to Janez Jansa, Slovenian Prime Minister and current President of the EU the result of the presidential election “must be regarded as the expression of the wish and determination of the democratic forces” of the country, which intend to “keep working with a view to joining the European Union”. Serbia will be able to “quickly” carry out the reforms that will be dictated by the EU accession criteria. “After all, the invitation recently made by the EU about the signing of a political agreement clearly means” that the 27 member states “expect a European Serbia, which will be itself a factor of stability and good cooperation in the Western Balkan region”. After congratulating the newly appointed president Tadic on the result of the election late night, Jansa explained that “Europe is ready to take new steps for Serbia” to fit in with the Community. Follows an editorial commentary by Mauro Ungaro, expert in Balkan politics. “The European soul of Serbia is once again the winner in past Sunday’s Presidential elections ballot vote. Moderate Democrat candidate Boris Tadic prevailed over the candidate of the Radical Party Tomislav Nikolic, although his was a hairbreadth victory (the final votes were one hundred thousand more than those of his opponent). Almost the entire electoral body went to vote: approximately 70 per cent cast their vote in the ballot boxes, including electors residing abroad (which, according to experts, amount to 20%). The victory of the Democratic Party leader was largely favored by the numerous ethnic minorities present in the Country, thus relegating in history’s archives nationalistic stereotypes evoked by commentators. This data testifies to the will of the Serbian People to be the protagonists of a very delicate moment in the history of their Country: a further step in the direction of an opening to the rest of the continent and of adhesion to the European Union. On the elections weighed also the debate on Kosovo’s future. In the past weeks, Pristina’s government announced on various occasions the “imminent” unilateral proclamation of its independence, an act that Tadic repeatedly defined “unacceptable”. The victory of the Democratic leader could change the whole picture; it is possible that the EU and the United States will consider “restraining” Kosovar leader Thaci. In the meantime, on Thursday February 7, Serbia and the EU will sign a Cooperation Agreement in the sectors of culture, scientific research, economics and on regulations for entry visas. This is a first step towards the “Stabilization and Association Agreement” needed by Belgrade to achieve a “EU-candidate Country” status. It’s time for diplomacies to sit around a table and seek together the most appropriate solutions for the future of the entire area”.