Von Beckerath: Serbia Needs to Align with Eu’s Foreign and Security Policy

Andreas von Beckerath (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

EU Ambassador to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath said on Oct. 24 that he expected Belgrade to align with the Union’s foreign and security policy, and implement sanctions against Russia, adding that it was important to note that the European Parliament had clearly indicated in a resolution adopted earlier this week that it wanted to see a democratic Serbia in the Union.

In an interview with N1 TV, the ambassador appealed to Serbia to step up the reform process on its path to the EU, underlining that there was an enlargement “momentum” from the Russian aggression against Ukraine. In a comment on the current situation in Serbia, he stated that divisions and polarization were the key challenges, emphasizing that the reform and accession process should be viewed as a platform to bring different parties closer together.

Von Beckerath explained that the rule of law, the electoral framework and media freedoms were the areas in which it was necessary to step up reforms, stressing that the freedom of the media was the foundation of a democratic society. As he said, his main task as the EU ambassador was to help Serbia move closer to the Union.

The diplomat noted that his principal partner in this effort was the current government, that he had met with ministers and officials, but also with representatives of the opposition, civil society, media and the business community because all of the actors, he said, had a role in implementing the necessary reforms.