"Serbia's economy threatened without EU"

BELGRADE The termination of cooperation with the EU would jeopardize the country's economic survival, First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic stated on Thursday. Responding to the answers by members of the opposition Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), who are against any cooperation with the EU, he said that it would be "easiest to say that Serbia does not want to cooperate with the EU". "Serbia's economy threatened without EU" However he warned that he "cannot say that since it would jeopardize the country's position, while on the other hand the cooperation with the EU is the only possible manner of responsible behavior in Serbia today". “It is not forbidden to discuss the bad sides of the EU, I just believe that it is crucially important for us to be rational and reasonable, and think about the advantages and disadvantages. It is a problem that 22 out of 27 EU member states have recognized Kosovo's independence, but if we terminated relations with the EU, the economic survival of the country would be threatened,” Vucic said in the Serbian parliament. After DSS members said that they find the participation of Serbian soldiers in the EU peacekeeping operations unacceptable, and that the EU pathway does not secure welfare of the Serbian citizens, Vucic said that he is not talking about the importance of the cooperation with the EU because he loves Berlin, Brussels and Paris more than Belgrade and other cities in Serbia, but because he does not know how Serbia would settle its obligations if there were no help from the EU. "In order to move from being the worst in the region to being able to afford a decent living, we have to change many things and it is important to have the EU's desire to help us in that. We will get EUR 170 million for our budget from the EU. I am not going to say that EUR 170 is more important than our border and people, but I am not going to say either that it is insignificant," he said. Serbia has huge problems, like unemployment, the budget deficit and lowest personal income in the region, Vucic stated. He said he understood all policies, even the DSS's, but that cooperation with the EU was the only responsible course of action currently in Serbia. "Someone had to pay RSD 4,000 to the poorest pensioners two days ago. Do you really think our economy created that," Vucic said, adding he was expecting a confirmation about a Russian loan of EUR 300 million and for an even bigger one, but he did not specify the source. Democratic Party member of the parliament Konstantin Samofalov supported Vucic's views during the debate, saying that the alternatives to joining the EU would be disastrous for Serbia. "Serbia belongs in Europe and will be a member of the EU, which is why it is good to show interest, take responsibility and take part in the joint EU defence policy," Samofalov noted. (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

"Serbia's economy threatened without EU"

However he warned that he "cannot say that since it would jeopardize the country's position, while on the other hand the cooperation with the EU is the only possible manner of responsible behavior in Serbia today".

“It is not forbidden to discuss the bad sides of the EU, I just believe that it is crucially important for us to be rational and reasonable, and think about the advantages and disadvantages. It is a problem that 22 out of 27 EU member states have recognized Kosovo's independence, but if we terminated relations with the EU, the economic survival of the country would be threatened,” Vučić said in the Serbian parliament.

After DSS members said that they find the participation of Serbian soldiers in the EU peacekeeping operations unacceptable, and that the EU pathway does not secure welfare of the Serbian citizens, Vučić said that he is not talking about the importance of the cooperation with the EU because he loves Berlin, Brussels and Paris more than Belgrade and other cities in Serbia, but because he does not know how Serbia would settle its obligations if there were no help from the EU.

"In order to move from being the worst in the region to being able to afford a decent living, we have to change many things and it is important to have the EU's desire to help us in that. We will get EUR 170 million for our budget from the EU. I am not going to say that EUR 170 is more important than our border and people, but I am not going to say either that it is insignificant," he said.

Serbia has huge problems, like unemployment, the budget deficit and lowest personal income in the region, Vučić stated.

He said he understood all policies, even the DSS's, but that cooperation with the EU was the only responsible course of action currently in Serbia.

"Someone had to pay RSD 4,000 to the poorest pensioners two days ago. Do you really think our economy created that," Vučić said, adding he was expecting a confirmation about a Russian loan of EUR 300 million and for an even bigger one, but he did not specify the source.

Democratic Party member of the parliament Konstantin Samofalov supported Vučić's views during the debate, saying that the alternatives to joining the EU would be disastrous for Serbia.

"Serbia belongs in Europe and will be a member of the EU, which is why it is good to show interest, take responsibility and take part in the joint EU defence policy," Samofalov noted.