Serbia pitched as gateway to "billion-people market"

"We offer good conditions to investors, better than many countries in the region. Serbia has free trade agreements with the EU, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, which is a market of one billion people which you can reach through your affiliates in Serbia," said Vucic and expressed gratitude for the support to Serbia's European path.

Yes and if we were ever to join the EU, we would have to completely void the FTA with Eurasian Union and Turkey. So in that sense we would lose that "1 billion" by just over half and instead we are bounding Serbia to the only trading bloc in the entire world that is not economically growing right now.

Suicide.

@Ari Gold,
I dont think Vucic has any intention of joining the EU. And i doubt that the EU really wants Serbia as a member.
But im sure Vucic is quite happy for Serbia to receive EU trade concessions, duty-free access to EU markets, economic and financial assistance as well as assistance for reconstructions and incentives for foreign investments.
Being a candidate state also means Serbia is free to trade and receive concessions from the Eurasian Economic Union.
Its much better to sit on the fence and work both sides.
Besides, the EU is a sinking ship

Stockholm Syndrome is when somebody who is taken hostage takes on the same opinions and position as the hostage taker.

In Serbia's case, what is it called when Germany screws your country and you say 'Thank You'? 'Consensual Rape' or 'Berlin Syndrome'?

Yes and if we were ever to join the EU, we would have to completely void the FTA with Eurasian Union and Turkey. So in that sense we would lose that "1 billion" by just over half and instead we are bounding Serbia to the only trading bloc in the entire world that is not economically growing right now.

Suicide.
(Ari Gold, 4 February 2015 19:06)

Ari,
Suicide is a bit harsh, however, Serbia has no positive alternatives. The best Serbia can hope for is to be tolerated by the West and be thrown a few crumbs every now and then. A big problem for Serbia is that it has no credibility. To regain it Serbia must undergo a miraculous transformation, starting with educating its young, without all the myths and selfpitying that is so common among its people. It is up to Serbia, but if I were a betting man I would have to say it will never happen. Sorry!

"We offer good conditions to investors, better than many countries in the region. Serbia has free trade agreements with the EU, the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, which is a market of one billion people which you can reach through your affiliates in Serbia," said Vucic and expressed gratitude for the support to Serbia's European path.

Yes and if we were ever to join the EU, we would have to completely void the FTA with Eurasian Union and Turkey. So in that sense we would lose that "1 billion" by just over half and instead we are bounding Serbia to the only trading bloc in the entire world that is not economically growing right now.

Suicide.

@Ari Gold,
I dont think Vucic has any intention of joining the EU. And i doubt that the EU really wants Serbia as a member.
But im sure Vucic is quite happy for Serbia to receive EU trade concessions, duty-free access to EU markets, economic and financial assistance as well as assistance for reconstructions and incentives for foreign investments.
Being a candidate state also means Serbia is free to trade and receive concessions from the Eurasian Economic Union.
Its much better to sit on the fence and work both sides.
Besides, the EU is a sinking ship

Stockholm Syndrome is when somebody who is taken hostage takes on the same opinions and position as the hostage taker.

In Serbia's case, what is it called when Germany screws your country and you say 'Thank You'? 'Consensual Rape' or 'Berlin Syndrome'?

Yes and if we were ever to join the EU, we would have to completely void the FTA with Eurasian Union and Turkey. So in that sense we would lose that "1 billion" by just over half and instead we are bounding Serbia to the only trading bloc in the entire world that is not economically growing right now.

Suicide.
(Ari Gold, 4 February 2015 19:06)

Ari,
Suicide is a bit harsh, however, Serbia has no positive alternatives. The best Serbia can hope for is to be tolerated by the West and be thrown a few crumbs every now and then. A big problem for Serbia is that it has no credibility. To regain it Serbia must undergo a miraculous transformation, starting with educating its young, without all the myths and selfpitying that is so common among its people. It is up to Serbia, but if I were a betting man I would have to say it will never happen. Sorry!