"Serbia doomed without Europe"

I don't think anyone is taking Draskovic seriously. He is history and is just scaremongering.

I assume he is a little low on funding at the moment and some much needed relief has come from the US/EU.

Draskovic is right. If Serbia joins the EU she will receive funds to development from an economic point of view. Plus, Serbia will benefit from an increase in foreign direct investment. I believe Serbia can achieve economic well being only with the help of the EU.

Draskovic is right about the existence of such funds and their importance, but definitely it not the case in richer Central European countries like Czech Republic or Slovenia. We don't get hat much, we barely break even! It's a myth the new EU members get much subsidies. Greece (up to now), Spain (up to recently) and Portugal got loads of monet, but that is the matter of the past. Central Europe (CZ,PL,SK,HU,SL) will be a clear contributor once Western Balkan countries join as we will - and are already (just check the Czech funding of many projects in Serbia) - all be financing for many decades to come. So, please don't think we can't do without Serbia , we will welcome Serbian people (when & if they are ready), but a lot of our taxes will go for it as well, so it's not your right to join, you have to deserve it first!!

"so it's not your right to join, you have to deserve it first!!"

Mr. Mirek,
This is very well said and sums up all the efforts that western ballkan countries are undertaking to achieve their common goal of joining EU. I do believe and hope that our serbian friends understand this, except those that already live in UK, and EU who don't really have to care either way.

What a crock.

Despite all the political 'instability' and hand wringing of those who think Serbia will sink without 'help' from the EU, the proof that this is not true can be seen on this same page:

Fiat, Zastava reps to meet Thursday
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=04&dd=23&nav_id=49694

"Pipeline has enormous potential for Serbia"
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=04&dd=23&nav_id=49667

Serbia-Germany trade balance breaks USD 3bn barrier
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=04&dd=23&nav_id=49682

When these idiots (and some journalists) talk of Serbia "isolating itself", do they actually read the news?

Is the EU threatening economic sanctions against Serbia if they don't give up Kosovo? No.

Can the Serbian economy continue to grow without EU structural funds? Yes.

If the EU turns the economic screws on Serbia, then they will also be damaging Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania, much as the sanctions on the FRY did during the 1990s. It will kill popular demand to join the EU - a two edged sword.

They will also have to kiss their vaunted 'stability pact' for south east Europe good bye.

You could also add to this that they will be giving power directly to organized crime gangs and undermining political and economic stability balkans wide.

The EU doesn't have a stick, it only has a carrot. The sooner idiots like Draskovic recognize this, the better.

Reports of 'dire consequences' if Serbia does not sign the SAA are just fear mongering, as are reports that investors are fleeing the country.

Some say - Serbia needs EU or it will starve.

Others say - "Serbia doomed without Europe"

The pragmatic say - Does joining the EU grant you a magic wand?
Does money appear out of thin air?
In fact joining EU, part from loosing Kosovo, also means loosing the support and sympathy of RF, China and others that have supported Serbia at this trying time, in spite of risking relations with the 'hypocritical' west...

For Serbia to join EU/NATO etc would be like committing suicide, believe me!

Let Europe come on bended knees, and in the meantime, trade with them as well as all those that are outside EU, and flush with cash...

"A fund financed by the most developed, richest countries to help the accelerated development of the least developed and poorest"

And why exactly would they go ahead and do that? Out of the goodness of their hearts? hahaha....

Luigi, yes, we have received a high level of FDI (foreign direct investment), but only because we offered a great opportunity for investors, not only lower costs, but MAINLY a skilled workforce prepared to work hard without relying on an ever expanding welfare state like in some other EU countries. FDI is not money given to a country, it's money that the country has been entrusted with based on a fierce competition and that money can leave anytime it wants to...so it's uncomparable to Brussels money that is given straight to country's badget. Central European countries still offer one of the best overall combinations of skill, value & business environments and countries that benefitted from huge EU subsidies earlier now find themselves overpriced & outperformed by newer EU entrants precisely because we do not drag the internal problems older EU members (Greece, Italy, Portugal, but also UK & Germany to name a few) have. So to sum it up - yes we got actually a better money (FDI) than some of the other once poorer EU countries, but we, unlike the others, have always deserved every bit of it as it came to us through a fair international competition, not just Brussels bureaucracy !!! I'm happy about that as that makes us much better prepared for withstanding any international competition in general. Serbia would do itself a great favour if it learns from our experience, I believe.

I agree with the commentator from Prague, Spain&Portugal are a matter of the past regarding benefits. Accession is "negotiated". In order to get as much muny and benefit at least for some serious years, the trick is to have as many as possible programs ready and implement them rapidly with all the eu fierce and complicated bureaucracy.
My country, in the first year after accession, manage to benefit from only 10% of the available funding (our fault), thus being a NET contributor to the EU budget with 0.38% of the GDP.
So before any larger country jumps in, they should have their homework done.

Serbia has existed since the 6th Century, why would not joining the EU doom Serbia? I guess the Norwegians, Swiss and Icelanders are scared right now. I know Serbia is not there, but come on, logically speaking, why should Serbia not be able to function without the EU? OK, the government at the moment is not working in the interests of the people, but with the right government, who knows?

In this forum i always advise Serbs to look east for many reasons that i have already said ..but i must admit that you have to understand that if you will say No to EU you will pay a price..
Investment will ease..
Private investment will be more carefoul..
trasport project will be redrawn in order to avoid Serbia and so on..
It's clear that you can't have Russian money and investment and Eu public and private funds at the same time..
it's a strategic choice..Where do you want to go ? from there money will arrive , but don't expect that the other side will keep the same pace of investment...

@Mr.Mirek & Adrian
What about private investments in your country since and before you
join EU ?
I well remember Prague 15 years ago and what about Timi in the 90's, yes maybe Greece-Spain-portugal and Ireland were super big beneficiaries of Eu funds but you have received a super amount of private funds that 20-25 years ago there weren't in EU i can tell you..
P.S Oh my post-degree experience in Czech Rep. ....!!!

On one hand, i would like to see my serbian neighbors in the EU. On the other hand, of course, we benefit from the fact that they didn`t join. We got the major investments, we are getting the funds for the european corridor IV and we already have a (small) number of serbian "gastarbeiters". But, people in Serbia will have to decide on this!

Mr. Draskovic, how much exactly are you willing to sell Kosovo for? Have you already negotiated this with EU and what figure did you come up with?

This is just a pie in the sky Mr. Draskovic. Nobody knows what Europe is prepared to offer Serbia but we all know what they want to take away.

Dear Luigi,

don't mistake your opinons for facts.

"Investment will ease..
Private investment will be more carefoul.."

The East is rising, China, Asia are the new economic powerhouses. There are alternatives to western FDI.

"trasport project will be redrawn in order to avoid Serbia and so on.."

Ridiculous. Serbia is still the shortest land route to Asia. Who is going to pay for your imaginary new transport routes? The only reason truckers are going through Bulgaria and Romania at the moment is because the serbian government incompetence over streamlining their customs system. It is loosing them millions of euros per week, but it fixable. Longer transport routes = higher prices for european consumers.

"It's clear that you can't have Russian money and investment and Eu public and private funds at the same time.."

Also ridiculous. This is a capitalist world where competition is king. As long as the competition is 'fair', there is no question of having to 'choose' between east or west. Do you actually know that the Cold War is over?

Draskovic is right about the existence of such funds and their importance, but definitely it not the case in richer Central European countries like Czech Republic or Slovenia. We don't get hat much, we barely break even! It's a myth the new EU members get much subsidies. Greece (up to now), Spain (up to recently) and Portugal got loads of monet, but that is the matter of the past. Central Europe (CZ,PL,SK,HU,SL) will be a clear contributor once Western Balkan countries join as we will - and are already (just check the Czech funding of many projects in Serbia) - all be financing for many decades to come. So, please don't think we can't do without Serbia , we will welcome Serbian people (when & if they are ready), but a lot of our taxes will go for it as well, so it's not your right to join, you have to deserve it first!!

Draskovic is right. If Serbia joins the EU she will receive funds to development from an economic point of view. Plus, Serbia will benefit from an increase in foreign direct investment. I believe Serbia can achieve economic well being only with the help of the EU.

"so it's not your right to join, you have to deserve it first!!"

Mr. Mirek,
This is very well said and sums up all the efforts that western ballkan countries are undertaking to achieve their common goal of joining EU. I do believe and hope that our serbian friends understand this, except those that already live in UK, and EU who don't really have to care either way.

Serbia has existed since the 6th Century, why would not joining the EU doom Serbia? I guess the Norwegians, Swiss and Icelanders are scared right now. I know Serbia is not there, but come on, logically speaking, why should Serbia not be able to function without the EU? OK, the government at the moment is not working in the interests of the people, but with the right government, who knows?

What a crock.

Despite all the political 'instability' and hand wringing of those who think Serbia will sink without 'help' from the EU, the proof that this is not true can be seen on this same page:

Fiat, Zastava reps to meet Thursday
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=04&dd=23&nav_id=49694

"Pipeline has enormous potential for Serbia"
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=04&dd=23&nav_id=49667

Serbia-Germany trade balance breaks USD 3bn barrier
http://www.b92.net/eng/news/business-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=04&dd=23&nav_id=49682

When these idiots (and some journalists) talk of Serbia "isolating itself", do they actually read the news?

Is the EU threatening economic sanctions against Serbia if they don't give up Kosovo? No.

Can the Serbian economy continue to grow without EU structural funds? Yes.

If the EU turns the economic screws on Serbia, then they will also be damaging Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Romania, much as the sanctions on the FRY did during the 1990s. It will kill popular demand to join the EU - a two edged sword.

They will also have to kiss their vaunted 'stability pact' for south east Europe good bye.

You could also add to this that they will be giving power directly to organized crime gangs and undermining political and economic stability balkans wide.

The EU doesn't have a stick, it only has a carrot. The sooner idiots like Draskovic recognize this, the better.

Reports of 'dire consequences' if Serbia does not sign the SAA are just fear mongering, as are reports that investors are fleeing the country.

I agree with the commentator from Prague, Spain&Portugal are a matter of the past regarding benefits. Accession is "negotiated". In order to get as much muny and benefit at least for some serious years, the trick is to have as many as possible programs ready and implement them rapidly with all the eu fierce and complicated bureaucracy.
My country, in the first year after accession, manage to benefit from only 10% of the available funding (our fault), thus being a NET contributor to the EU budget with 0.38% of the GDP.
So before any larger country jumps in, they should have their homework done.

I don't think anyone is taking Draskovic seriously. He is history and is just scaremongering.

I assume he is a little low on funding at the moment and some much needed relief has come from the US/EU.

@Mr.Mirek & Adrian
What about private investments in your country since and before you
join EU ?
I well remember Prague 15 years ago and what about Timi in the 90's, yes maybe Greece-Spain-portugal and Ireland were super big beneficiaries of Eu funds but you have received a super amount of private funds that 20-25 years ago there weren't in EU i can tell you..
P.S Oh my post-degree experience in Czech Rep. ....!!!

On one hand, i would like to see my serbian neighbors in the EU. On the other hand, of course, we benefit from the fact that they didn`t join. We got the major investments, we are getting the funds for the european corridor IV and we already have a (small) number of serbian "gastarbeiters". But, people in Serbia will have to decide on this!

Luigi, yes, we have received a high level of FDI (foreign direct investment), but only because we offered a great opportunity for investors, not only lower costs, but MAINLY a skilled workforce prepared to work hard without relying on an ever expanding welfare state like in some other EU countries. FDI is not money given to a country, it's money that the country has been entrusted with based on a fierce competition and that money can leave anytime it wants to...so it's uncomparable to Brussels money that is given straight to country's badget. Central European countries still offer one of the best overall combinations of skill, value & business environments and countries that benefitted from huge EU subsidies earlier now find themselves overpriced & outperformed by newer EU entrants precisely because we do not drag the internal problems older EU members (Greece, Italy, Portugal, but also UK & Germany to name a few) have. So to sum it up - yes we got actually a better money (FDI) than some of the other once poorer EU countries, but we, unlike the others, have always deserved every bit of it as it came to us through a fair international competition, not just Brussels bureaucracy !!! I'm happy about that as that makes us much better prepared for withstanding any international competition in general. Serbia would do itself a great favour if it learns from our experience, I believe.

Some say - Serbia needs EU or it will starve.

Others say - "Serbia doomed without Europe"

The pragmatic say - Does joining the EU grant you a magic wand?
Does money appear out of thin air?
In fact joining EU, part from loosing Kosovo, also means loosing the support and sympathy of RF, China and others that have supported Serbia at this trying time, in spite of risking relations with the 'hypocritical' west...

For Serbia to join EU/NATO etc would be like committing suicide, believe me!

Let Europe come on bended knees, and in the meantime, trade with them as well as all those that are outside EU, and flush with cash...

"A fund financed by the most developed, richest countries to help the accelerated development of the least developed and poorest"

And why exactly would they go ahead and do that? Out of the goodness of their hearts? hahaha....

Mr. Draskovic, how much exactly are you willing to sell Kosovo for? Have you already negotiated this with EU and what figure did you come up with?

This is just a pie in the sky Mr. Draskovic. Nobody knows what Europe is prepared to offer Serbia but we all know what they want to take away.

In this forum i always advise Serbs to look east for many reasons that i have already said ..but i must admit that you have to understand that if you will say No to EU you will pay a price..
Investment will ease..
Private investment will be more carefoul..
trasport project will be redrawn in order to avoid Serbia and so on..
It's clear that you can't have Russian money and investment and Eu public and private funds at the same time..
it's a strategic choice..Where do you want to go ? from there money will arrive , but don't expect that the other side will keep the same pace of investment...

Dear Luigi,

don't mistake your opinons for facts.

"Investment will ease..
Private investment will be more carefoul.."

The East is rising, China, Asia are the new economic powerhouses. There are alternatives to western FDI.

"trasport project will be redrawn in order to avoid Serbia and so on.."

Ridiculous. Serbia is still the shortest land route to Asia. Who is going to pay for your imaginary new transport routes? The only reason truckers are going through Bulgaria and Romania at the moment is because the serbian government incompetence over streamlining their customs system. It is loosing them millions of euros per week, but it fixable. Longer transport routes = higher prices for european consumers.

"It's clear that you can't have Russian money and investment and Eu public and private funds at the same time.."

Also ridiculous. This is a capitalist world where competition is king. As long as the competition is 'fair', there is no question of having to 'choose' between east or west. Do you actually know that the Cold War is over?