Opposition Party: Costa’s Visit to Belgrade Represents Continued Pressure on Serbia

Antonio Costa (BETAPHOTO/HINA/DAMIR SENCAR)

Zoran Sandic, deputy leader of the New Democratic Party of Serbia, on June 3 said that the visit of European Council President Antonio Costa to Serbia represents “continued pressure on our country.” 

Noting that Costa is from Portugal, a country which recognized Kosovo’s independence, Sandic recalled Costa’s recent statement that it is an “irreversible reality” and “the key to Serbia’s EU integration,” the party said in a release. 

“On the other hand, (Serbian President) Aleksandar Vucic has said that Serbia continues to pursue its EU path despite all the pressure,” Sandic said. He stressed that the EU today is not what it was 20 years ago, adding that the member states are plagued by numerous problems such as uncontrolled migration, economic difficulties and Brexit. 

Sandic also said that “many things in the EU are arranged well,” but stressed that the problem is that a membership also implies “the obligation to endorse the bad things as well, such a sanctions against Russia, giving away 15 percent of your territory and the destruction of domestic agriculture as cheap products from abroad will flood our market.” When asked whether Brussels has helped Serbia to improve electoral conditions, Sandic answered that his party “does not talk to foreign embassies” and “does not air its dirty laundry before them.”