Opposition Party: Debate in European Parliament Has Opened New Chapter in EU's Attitude Toward Serbia

European union

Serbia Center party vice-president Dusko Lopandic said on Sept. 11 that a debate in the European Parliament on the situation in Serbia " has opened a new chapter" in the EU's attitude toward Belgrade.

"The tone of European MPs is becoming increasingly critical, and the largest political group in the EU - the European People's Party (EPP), which the Serbian Progressive Party is a member of, is now distancing itself from the Serbian government's policy. Nearly 40 MEPs participated in the debate, which is rare and shows the extent of the interest caused by the situation in Serbia. It is also especially significant that the EPP has announced that it will consider the Serbian Progressive Party's membership, which is a warning of sorts before exclusion," Lopandic told Insajder TV.

Speaking on Serbia Center party president Zdravko Ponos' proposal for sanctions against top government officials in Serbia, Lopandic said that "this is not impossible."

"Sanctions against individuals are not an attack on the state, but a message that institutions are expected to respect the law. I do not see where the problem is in introducing sanctions against the chiefs of police who ordered beatings," Lopandic said.