German Analyst: EU Not Fooled, It Has Just Invested Too Much in Vucic to React

EU flags (PHOTO: EUROPEAN UNION/Zucchi Enzo)

Political analyst Kurt Bassuener, co-founder of the Berlin-based Democratization Policy Council, said on Aug. 29 that the European Union (EU) was not deceived by the Serbian government’s rhetoric but was refraining from reacting because it had invested too much in President Aleksandar Vucic and did not want to take risks.

In an interview with N1 TV, Bassuener said the situation in Serbia was "extremely worrying" and that "the repressive measures taken by the government and the ruling Serbian Progressive Party constitute a serious escalation." He said that the silence in the West was disappointing, especially in the EU, noting though that he "does not believe the EU is fooled by the narrative that the protesters are aggressive and violent."

"Rather, the West is clinging to any excuse not to change its policy toward Vucic. It uses it as a pretext to maintain its balancing act and call for dialogue. But in reality, it has simply invested too much in this government and is unwilling to take risks," he said, adding that Serbia’s opposition was weak, the student movement unknown, and no one knew what kind of government elections might produce.

Bassuener warned that Serbia "is now entering a dangerous phase" as "it seems the authorities are almost provoking citizens to respond so they have an excuse for stronger use of force." He described Vucic’s invitation to students for dialogue - whom he had recently labeled terrorists, Nazis, and Ustashas - as "a cheap rhetorical point, absolutely meaningless, a cheque he knows will never be cashed because the conditions are already fixed in his favor."