"Structural reforms, fiscal consolidation vital"

We are at a point of no return on our path towards the EU. In the wake of the elections, we have a unique, historic opportunity to complete the task of joining the EU," Krstić said.

With this, all of his supposed economic and financial credentials go out the window. Joining the EU would be catastrophic for Serbia's economy. The primary reason for this is the EU is no longer a trading bloc, but a political and economic union. Politically, an economically weak country like Serbia (and other eastern European countries), will never be able to enact laws which benefit the Serbian economy. And Serbia will be subject to the rules and regulations passed by the unelected European Commission elite in Brussels.

A common interest rate, economic regulation and tax system between economically and culturally diverse societies such as Germany, Sweden, Holland on one hand and Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria on the other is absolutely doomed to failure. We are seeing this now with the likes of Greece, Cyprus (where the EU elite literally took money out of savings accounts), Spain and soon Italy.

If Serbia is on the point of no return to the EU, then Serbia will never return to some sense of stability. The fortunate thing is the EU will never accept Serbia in a trillion years. But nonetheless, these pro EU laws being enacted are catastrophic for Serbia.

He's one of the view Serbian politicians whose words make some sense and are without the usual propaganda to foster the right-wing nationalists.
(Comm. Parrisson, 1 April 2014 11:32)

What part of his statement "makes sense" to you? Right-wing nationalism? There are plenty of economic reasons why EU membership (even though that will never happen anyway because they don't want Serbia) would be catastrophic. It's sad when EUrophile fanatics cannot even have a proper debate on the issue, just disregard anyone who has a difference of opinion as "right-wing" or "nationalist".

He's one of the view Serbian politicians whose words make some sense and are without the usual propaganda to foster the right-wing nationalists.

(Comm. Parrisson, 1 April 2014 14:04)

Free trade agreements are fine and should be encouraged, not just with the EU but with as many countries as possible. However the EU is not a free trade agreement or even a common market any more. It is a superstate where domestic governments do not have much say on their own matters. Iceland of 300, 000 people turned down the EU for the benefit of their fishing industry, and negotiated a free trade agreement with China on their own terms. Iceland can reject the EU because of fishes, but Serbia can continue to meet every ridiculous EU condition that they themselves don't expect Serbia to meet.

You think Serbia's government is bloated now? In Serbia you have an ambassador to the EU, an Office of EU Integration, ambassadors to each individual EU country, a Ministry for EU integration, ambassadors to OSCE, Council of Europe & NATO. Don't you think this fanatic EUphoria project is actually contributing to the bloated government in Belgrade?

I wish the EU told Serbia "cut the size of your state administration" because the actual cost of government is Serbia's most pressing problem. But they haven't said that at all. What's worse is it wont even matter how bloated Serbia's government is, with EU membership, the domestic gov't will not have any power to legislate in Serbia. If Serbia joins the EU, it may as well do its citizens a favor and get rid of all state institutions.

"What part of his statement "makes sense" to you?"
(Ari Gold, 1 April 2014 13:37)

"To complete that task, we must form a good government, with competent people in the posts where significant decisions are made. Those people must be capable of implementing the laws we will pass"

That one, amongst others.

"Right-wing nationalism? There are plenty of economic reasons why EU membership (even though that will never happen anyway because they don't want Serbia) would be catastrophic."
(Ari Gold, 1 April 2014 13:37)

Yes? Like what ? Because Serbian companies would have to be competitive, and the bloated state sector must be reduced? This might be 'catastropic' in the first 1-2 years, but after that, it would only do fine. Or do you refer to the 'catastophic' Euro-membership of Greece, where the evil EU imposes measurements and requirements for further help for a country ruined by bad politics, corruption and gross mismanagement?

Comm. Parrisson, Serbia doesn't need the EU to address the problem of a bloated public sector and bureaucracy (the EU isn't much better in that regard). It just needs the political will to make the painful but necessary cuts. As Ari Gold said, trade agreements are fine, so long as they are reciprocal and mutually beneficial. Serbia is better off joining the EFTA, that way we retain our economic and political independence.

He's one of the view Serbian politicians whose words make some sense and are without the usual propaganda to foster the right-wing nationalists.
(Comm. Parrisson, 1 April 2014 11:32)

What part of his statement "makes sense" to you? Right-wing nationalism? There are plenty of economic reasons why EU membership (even though that will never happen anyway because they don't want Serbia) would be catastrophic. It's sad when EUrophile fanatics cannot even have a proper debate on the issue, just disregard anyone who has a difference of opinion as "right-wing" or "nationalist".

We are at a point of no return on our path towards the EU. In the wake of the elections, we have a unique, historic opportunity to complete the task of joining the EU," Krstić said.

With this, all of his supposed economic and financial credentials go out the window. Joining the EU would be catastrophic for Serbia's economy. The primary reason for this is the EU is no longer a trading bloc, but a political and economic union. Politically, an economically weak country like Serbia (and other eastern European countries), will never be able to enact laws which benefit the Serbian economy. And Serbia will be subject to the rules and regulations passed by the unelected European Commission elite in Brussels.

A common interest rate, economic regulation and tax system between economically and culturally diverse societies such as Germany, Sweden, Holland on one hand and Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria on the other is absolutely doomed to failure. We are seeing this now with the likes of Greece, Cyprus (where the EU elite literally took money out of savings accounts), Spain and soon Italy.

If Serbia is on the point of no return to the EU, then Serbia will never return to some sense of stability. The fortunate thing is the EU will never accept Serbia in a trillion years. But nonetheless, these pro EU laws being enacted are catastrophic for Serbia.

He's one of the view Serbian politicians whose words make some sense and are without the usual propaganda to foster the right-wing nationalists.

"What part of his statement "makes sense" to you?"
(Ari Gold, 1 April 2014 13:37)

"To complete that task, we must form a good government, with competent people in the posts where significant decisions are made. Those people must be capable of implementing the laws we will pass"

That one, amongst others.

"Right-wing nationalism? There are plenty of economic reasons why EU membership (even though that will never happen anyway because they don't want Serbia) would be catastrophic."
(Ari Gold, 1 April 2014 13:37)

Yes? Like what ? Because Serbian companies would have to be competitive, and the bloated state sector must be reduced? This might be 'catastropic' in the first 1-2 years, but after that, it would only do fine. Or do you refer to the 'catastophic' Euro-membership of Greece, where the evil EU imposes measurements and requirements for further help for a country ruined by bad politics, corruption and gross mismanagement?

Comm. Parrisson, Serbia doesn't need the EU to address the problem of a bloated public sector and bureaucracy (the EU isn't much better in that regard). It just needs the political will to make the painful but necessary cuts. As Ari Gold said, trade agreements are fine, so long as they are reciprocal and mutually beneficial. Serbia is better off joining the EFTA, that way we retain our economic and political independence.

(Comm. Parrisson, 1 April 2014 14:04)

Free trade agreements are fine and should be encouraged, not just with the EU but with as many countries as possible. However the EU is not a free trade agreement or even a common market any more. It is a superstate where domestic governments do not have much say on their own matters. Iceland of 300, 000 people turned down the EU for the benefit of their fishing industry, and negotiated a free trade agreement with China on their own terms. Iceland can reject the EU because of fishes, but Serbia can continue to meet every ridiculous EU condition that they themselves don't expect Serbia to meet.

You think Serbia's government is bloated now? In Serbia you have an ambassador to the EU, an Office of EU Integration, ambassadors to each individual EU country, a Ministry for EU integration, ambassadors to OSCE, Council of Europe & NATO. Don't you think this fanatic EUphoria project is actually contributing to the bloated government in Belgrade?

I wish the EU told Serbia "cut the size of your state administration" because the actual cost of government is Serbia's most pressing problem. But they haven't said that at all. What's worse is it wont even matter how bloated Serbia's government is, with EU membership, the domestic gov't will not have any power to legislate in Serbia. If Serbia joins the EU, it may as well do its citizens a favor and get rid of all state institutions.