“The European tradition has been destroyed in the EU”: how Moscow reacted to the EP’s call to Serbia to impose sanctions against Russia

In the EU, only geographic reference to the continent remained from Europe, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Thus, she commented on the statement by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on the new recommendations of the European Parliament (EP), which deal with the recognition of the independence of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo and the introduction of anti-Russian restrictions by Serbia for its entry into the European Union.

“This is really funny.

What is left of Europe in the EU?

Only geographical reference to the continent.

Europe as a civilization is now preserved in Russia.

The European tradition has been destroyed in the EU: the ancient postulates of law and law, Christian values, and the ideals of humanism have been perverted, ”Zakharova emphasized in her Telegram.

Earlier, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said that the recommendations of the European Parliament refer to Serbia's recognition of Kosovo's independence and the imposition of sanctions against the Russian Federation as conditions for the republic's accession to the EU.

Recall that on November 23, the EP published on its website recommendations “on a new EU enlargement strategy” for the European Commission, as well as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.

MEPs call on official Brussels to intensify the EU's constructive dialogue with the authorities of Serbia and Kosovo "to reach a comprehensive, legally binding agreement on normalization based on mutual recognition."

It is noted that this is supposedly necessary for both sides to move "along their own European paths."

“(This.

) will contribute to regional stability, prosperity and normalization of relations,” the authors of the document are sure.

The EP also noted the "critical importance of a prompt, transparent and conscientious" solution to all pressing issues through the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

It was also recommended to continue negotiations with Serbia on its possible EU membership "only if it complies with the EU sanctions against Russia and achieves significant progress in the implementation of EU-related reforms."

“Call on Serbia to systematically adhere to the restrictive measures and the common EU policy towards Russia, demonstrate progress in the field of democracy and the rule of law, and accept the values ​​and priorities of the EU,” the EP recommendations say.

The MEPs also consider it necessary to review the activities of all bilateral EU funds and funds for Serbia “which may act in favor of the Serbian authorities”, in particular organizations associated with projects financed under the Economic and Investment Plan for the Western Balkans, “to ensure that the costs are fully consistent with EU Strategic Goals and Interests of the EU”.

• Meeting of the European Parliament

• AP

• © Jean-Francois Badias

Anti-Russian efforts

It is worth noting that this is not the first time in the European Union that they have been talking about the need for Belgrade to support the line of anti-Russian sanctions.

In particular, the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, made such an appeal back in the spring.

In his opinion, maintaining strong ties between Serbia and the Russian Federation allegedly does not correlate with building a common future for this country with the European Union.

Later, in June, a similar idea was presented in the European Parliament, on whose website a press release was published by the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, which called on the Serbian authorities to immediately join the EU restrictions on Russia.

In July and October, EU Ambassador to Serbia Emmanuel Jofre said that Belgrade should support Brussels in its confrontation with the Russian Federation.

However, the Serbian authorities, despite such pressure, have repeatedly stated that they do not intend to impose anti-Russian sanctions or oppose Moscow.

Serbian Interior Minister Aleksander Vulin said his country would not come into conflict with Russia, the centuries-old, “and often the only” ally of the Serbian side, and would pursue an independent foreign policy.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has repeatedly stated that the republic does not want to impose sanctions against Russia.

He noted that Belgrade will not change its policy and that the country intends to withstand pressure from outside.

Last week, Vucic called the right decision not to impose anti-Russian sanctions.

According to him, this step was well thought out by Belgrade.

"Will cause an uproar"

According to experts, despite the fact that the EU continues to put pressure on Serbia through anti-Russian sanctions, Belgrade continues to take an extremely firm position on this issue.

“The Serbian side has taken root in its intention not to succumb to the pressure of the EP and the EU.

This is also evidenced by the decision of the Serbian Parliament and public opinion polls, which show that the absolute majority of the Serbian population opposes joining anti-Russian sanctions, ”Elena Guskova, a leading researcher at the Institute of Slavic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said in a commentary to RT.

According to her, it is extremely important for Serbia to maintain close ties with Russia, with which it has been cooperating for several centuries.

“The desire to remain on friendly terms with the Russian Federation is motivated, among other things, by the desire of the Serbian authorities to defend their own interests, meet the economic and energy needs of the country, including through Russia’s favorable gas supply offers,” the expert added.

• Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic

• Gettyimages.ru

• © Milos Miskov

Guskova believes that by putting pressure on Serbia on the issue of anti-Russian restrictions, the EU is speculating on the topic of maintaining unity in Europe.

“However, in this case, we are still talking not about the unity of the EU, but about the frenzied Russophobia and Serbophobia that fills Europe today.

Brussels will continue to stand its ground and link anti-Russian measures with Serbia's accession to the European Union.

But if, theoretically, Belgrade succumbs to pressure, this will cause an uproar in Serbian society.

For this reason too, Belgrade refuses to join the restrictions against the Russian Federation,” says Guskova.

Ekaterina Entina, Professor at the Higher School of Economics, Head of the Black Sea-Mediterranean Studies Department at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that anti-Russian sanctions are practically the only instrument of pressure on Serbia that the EU has.

“In the last few months, he has been using it in all sorts of ways.

Such statements, resolutions, as well as the recent threats to suspend negotiations with Belgrade on possible EU membership until it imposes sanctions against the Russian Federation, only further push Serbia towards Moscow.

But this, apparently, is precisely what the EU does not understand, continuing to increase pressure on Belgrade, ”Antina said in a conversation with RT.

From her point of view, it is no coincidence that the EP resolution refers not only to anti-Russian sanctions, but also to the Kosovo issue.

“The situation in Kosovo and Metohija has seriously deteriorated in terms of the escalation of tension, and, accordingly, the EU is trying to draw Serbia into its orbit of influence as quickly as possible, including through such resolutions.

Despite the fact that this document is advisory in nature, it nevertheless builds some rules of the game within the EU, showing what would be considered acceptable behavior for Brussels on the part of Serbia,” the expert explained.

However, as Entina noted, Belgrade is not ready today to carry out European integration under enormous pressure, agreeing to any compromises.

“The positions of Belgrade and Brussels on the issue of anti-Russian sanctions and Kosovo are two parallel lines.

The parties interpret the concept of European integration in different ways, and Serbia does not intend to play along with either the European Parliament or European officials,” the analyst concluded.