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MP Ana Jakovljevic stated that according to a source within the EPP, the procedure for the expulsion of the SNS will begin soon...
In the last two weeks, one of the main topics when talking about relations between the Serbian authorities and the European Union has been the status of the Serbian Progressive Party (Vučić's party) in the European People's Party, of which it is a member. Although the EPP president himself stated that this will be discussed within the party, and other sources confirmed that this is the case, the question is why the EPP decided "only now" to deal with the SNS, and how it is possible that this cooperation did not tarnish their reputation earlier.
The fate of the SNS in the EPP has been under discussion at least since the last visit of Serbian opposition representatives to Brussels. Then the president of the European People's Party, Manfred Weber, told the media before the EP plenary session that his party is carefully following the situation and developments in Serbia, and added that the group is not blind to the latest events and images from Serbia.
Weber said that EPP leaders initiated a discussion about the situation in Serbia and the SNS's membership in that political grouping, which will take place in the coming days.
That same day, in a panel discussion attended by the Serbian opposition, but not by EPP representatives, one of the conclusions agreed upon by both Serbian and European MEPs was that pressure should be exerted on the EPP to take action regarding SNS membership, that is, to express the position that the SNS cannot be a member of any European party in violation of the principles of democracy.
In addition to the statements from Strasbourg, MP Ana Jakovljevic stated that according to a source within the EPP, the procedure for the expulsion of the SNS will begin soon and that this is being done because the EPP is concerned about its reputation.
The Director General of the Institute for European Affairs, Leo Beshiri, told the newspaper 'Danas' that the EPP is in a situation where there is no longer room to ignore what is happening in Serbia.
" For years, they turned a blind eye to the SNS's authoritarian practices, with the excuse that it is better to keep Vučić, at least nominally, in the European family than to push him completely towards Moscow or Beijing. But recent events, including violence against protesters and the decline in trust in institutions, have made silence more costly than reaction ," Bešir said.
As he adds, the EPP did not suddenly see what was happening in Serbia, but the pressure, both internal and external, became too great to ignore.
" If there is a breakup, the consequences for the government in Serbia will not be tectonic in terms of domestic politics. Vučić was building a system that does not rely on the support of European parties, but on complete control of domestic institutions and media. However, the loss of the EPP would have a serious symbolic effect ," Bešir added.
This effect, he believes, would consist in the loss of the SNS' argument that it belongs in mainstream European politics.
"This would mean more difficult access to offices in Brussels, weaker protection in the European Parliament and less room for maneuver in international negotiations. In other words, it would not bring down the government, but it would make it even more isolated and defensive ," he explains.
When asked why the EPP is only now concerned about its reputation, Beshiri says it is a combination of pragmatism and double standards.
“ While the SNS brought votes to the EPP through Orban and the diaspora and served as a conduit for the region, they tolerated a lot. Even when there were obvious violations of democratic standards, interest prevailed over principles. Only now, when the European public is more sensitive to the issue of the rule of law and the images from the streets of Belgrade, Novi Sad and other cities are too powerful to hide, is the EPP coming out with a clearer stance ,” he said, adding that this is not a sudden discovery of the problem, but a consequence of a change in political calculation.
In other words, Beshiri claims that the PPE is ready to go further than before, but that this is not a consequence of a moral awakening, but because the cost of inaction outweighs the benefit of an alliance with the SNS.
"Slowly but surely, the door is closing on Vučić, and this could lead to further isolation of the arbitrary regime in Belgrade ," he concludes.
Aris Movsesian, vice-president of the Free Citizens Movement, emphasized to Danas that the EPP is increasingly talking about the fact that the SNS needs to decide where it belongs.
"If the policy of balancing and turning towards Russia and China continues, the EPP will certainly not tolerate it ," says Movsesian.
As he points out, the final dissolution of the EPP and SNS would have serious consequences for the government, from the loss of political coverage in Europe to the weakening of Serbia's position in European institutions and negotiations, adding that this would also be a strong signal that the government is leading the country into isolation.
" Especially problematic are the serious violations of the rule of law and violent confrontations with citizens during the months-long protests, which further exhausted the threshold of tolerance. Previously, there could have been hope that the warnings would bear fruit, but as the SNS increasingly moves away from the European path and turns towards other centers of power, the EPP is increasingly convinced that a dividing line must be drawn, because their reputation and steadfastness in defending European values can no longer tolerate such outbursts ," concludes Movsesian./ Adapted from "Pamphlet" by "Danas"
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