Ambassador MacLeod: Britain's Policy on the Balkans to Remain the Same

Sian MacLeod (Beta/printscreen)

The interests of Great Britain in the Balkans remain the same regardless of Brexit, because the British foreign policy does not depend on whether it is a member of the EU, British Ambassador to Serbia Sian MacLeod said on Oct. 31.

At a gathering titled To Be or Not to Be - Brexit, the EU and the Western Balkans, the ambassador pointed out that her country will continue to support reforms and regional cooperation in the Balkans.

She added that for some reason the media are ignoring the financial aid Britain is giving the region and explained that GBP10 million has been invested in the digitalization of schools, while close to 40 million has been invested in the Agency for the Peaceful Settlement of Labor Disputes, e-government and strengthening media freedom.

MacLeod hailed Serbia's progress on the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business list and added that combating crime and corruption and strengthening the rule of law are also important for attracting investment.

She went on to say that when she received an invitation to the gathering, she thought Oct. 31 would be the day Britain left the European Union, whereas now there is a delay and new elections in December. Whatever happens, the subject of the debate on Brexit is that Britain is leaving the European Union, not Europe, added MacLeod.

Head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation's Belgrade Office Max Braendle said the EU was designed as a continuous process of integration, with the idea that no single nation will ever again think that it can be dominant.

The European Union is the framework for resolving all issues in a peaceful way, and relations between Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as between Ireland and Great Britain, are an example of that, added Braendle.

One of the event organizers, Center for Foreign Policy President Dragan Djukanovic said that what is important for the Western Balkans is whether Great Britain, but all of the EU as well, will change its attitude toward the Western Balkans after Brexit, adding that the region is closely watching upcoming developments in the elections and in the period until the new deadline for Brexit, in January 2020.