The Dutch Member of the European Parliament, Thijs Reuten, from the Social-Democrat group, says that the EP’s stance on Serbia is clear; a much harsher response is needed.
“The majority in Parliament was very critical of the European Union. Despite numerous criticisms for months, sanctions were imposed only on Kosovo and not on the aggressor, the main cause of destabilization and provocations we have seen for some time,” Reuten told Inside Albania host, Alice Taylor.
The Dutch MEP called on the European Union to end its appeasement policy with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, as according to him, it is yielding no results.
“We should leave the disastrous appeasement policy with Vučić. It’s not working, but only helping him keep the situation destabilized and occasionally provoke using his escalation tools, instead of doing the opposite. This needs to end!”
Asked why the EU has chosen to pursue an appeasement policy with Vučić, Reuten expressed frustration, claiming that the logic is unexplainable to him.
“If I look back at what has happened and limit myself to the past six months, I see how many times we have tried, how many times Vučić returned from Brussels to Belgrade and proudly stated that he had not signed anything and was not committed to anything, while Commissioner Várhelyi knocked on his door with 600 million euros! I just don’t understand the logic behind this action, and I think it’s not working. On the contrary, we would have seen a different situation. It’s clear that with autocrats, appeasement is not the solution.”
Regarding a chance for both Kosovo and Serbia to return to the dialogue on the normalization of relations, Reuten called for the end of provocations first.
“I agree that we should talk, but it must be a dialogue in good faith. If there has been an attack, likely supported by Serbia itself, where a police officer lost his life, where a large quantity of smuggled weapons was found in Kosovo, perhaps for further destabilizing actions, then we cannot act as usual,” Reuten expressed.
“For me and many others in the European Parliament, everything that has happened, not only during the past week but also in the months after the Ohrid Agreement, is on the long list of provocations. The attack on KFOR soldiers, the kidnapping of police officers in Kosovo… the right atmosphere must be created for the parties to sit at a table again and work towards normalization. We cannot just go back to business as usual after all these provocations,” the Dutch MEP added.
The European Parliament is expected to come out with a resolution condemning the September 24 attack in Banjska of Zvecan, where an armed group targeted the Kosovo Police, resulting in the death of police officer Afrim Bunjaku.
Following the attack, the assailants sought refuge in the Banjska Monastery, leading to a standoff with the police. During the ensuing clashes, three of the attackers lost their lives.
MEP Reuten said that the resolution will highlight the EP’s demands towards the EU.
“The European Parliament will come up with a very strong resolution that will contain our demands to European institutions, member states, and the European Commission. It’s good that we have time; the resolution will be voted on in two weeks. We have time to prepare it.”
Regarding Serbia’s close ties to Russia, the Dutch MEP expressed concerns that the lack of sanctions from Belgrade to Moscow indicates that Vučić does not take the EU seriously.
“It’s problematic that Serbia has not imposed sanctions against Russia. It’s a big problem that security officials, cabinet ministers of Vučić, are still traveling to Moscow. It’s a problem that Vučić met with the Russian Ambassador in Belgrade a day after the attack, just to provoke and show the EU that he does not take it seriously,” Reuten elaborated.
According to the Dutch MEP, Vučić must change his policies in the interest of Serbia.
“I want to emphasize that the change is in the interest of the Serbian people, as well as the Serbs in north Kosovo, who Vučić holds hostage, to change his approach and for the EU and its allies to be strict and tough with him,” concluded Reuten.
