Speaking about the Western Balkans’ future in the European Union at the workshop entitled “Political Developments in the Western Balkans”, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Prof. Dr Zarko Obradovic asked why the EU does not react more to help resolve the problems in the Balkans when it is the signatory and guarantor of the signed contracts. Stressing that it is Serbia’s strategic goal to join the European Union and foster good-neighbourly relations and regional cooperation, Obradovic reaffirmed Serbia’s capacity to open more chapters, which is opposed by a number of countries led by their special interests concerning the recognition of Kosovo-Metohija. He noted that the EU as one of the signatories and guarantor of the Brussels Agreement has not reacted adequately to Pristina which has been refusing for six years now to apply the provisions concerning the establishment of a community of Serb municipalities. The EU’s responses to the unilateral imposition of customs tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have also had no effect and that has been going on for 9 months. Obradovic also spoke about other aspects of the negative goings-on in Kosovo-Metohija and how they make the situation in Serbia’s southern province and in the south of the Balkans unstable and vulnerable and pose an obstacle to the resolution of the problems therein. Serbia is committed to dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the problem and therefore expects the EU to act in accordance with its values and obligations, without double-standards, and with the fact that five EU members have not recognized the independence of so-called Kosovo and that the EU should not be status neutral on the issue.

In the course of the conference the National Assembly delegation met with the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister and discussed the situation in the Western Balkans.

The Conference covered the topic of: A Stronger Europe for European Security, Priorities of the EU in the Area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy, Restoring Transatlantic Unity In Global Affairs, Quo Vadis EU Defence: a Force for Peace or a Military Power?, Climate Change and Security, as well as workshops entitled: Countering Hybrid Threats: Assessing the EU’s Policies and Instruments and Iran - options for the EU and the future of the nuclear deal.