Principles over Interests

Tonino Picula (BETAPHOTO/European Parliament/Philippe BUISSIN)

Croatian politician Tonino Picula, a European Parliament MP (MEP) from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, was appointed last week the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia. Picula’s appointment, which many in Serbia find controversial, has stirred up mostly stormy reactions, particularly among Serbia’s senior state officials, spearheaded by President Aleksandar Vucic. Given that a substantial part of the Serbian public has a negative stance on Picula, one can say that the appointment is risky and could affect how citizens feel about the European Union, but also serve as an excuse for Vucic for Serbia’s lack of progress on the European path.