Austria’s Greens Request Minister for Europe Bauer To Clarify Vienna’s Position on Serbia 

EU flags (PHOTO: EUROPEAN UNION/Zucchi Enzo)

Meri Disoski, Austria’s Greens spokeswoman for foreign and European policy, has demanded from Austrian Minister for Europe Claudia Bauer, to clarify Vienna’s position on Serbia, especially regarding the rule of law and the country’s EU accession process.

Ahead of an informal meeting of the EU General Affairs Council in Brussels, which is set to discuss the rule of law in Serbia, Disoski announced a parliamentary question addressed to Austrian Minister for Europe Claudia Bauer. Disoski recalled that during her visit to Belgrade last October, Bauer described the Serbian constitutional framework for the judiciary as a European reference model of institutional independence.

Disoski requested from the minister to present her assessment of the situation in Serbia and say what position Austria will advocate in the EU Council. The parliamentary question will also concern the Serbian authorities’ position on Ratko Mladic. Disoski criticized funeral for Mladic in Belgrade with state and military honors, reminding that he was convicted of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Another question will address the consequences, according to Austria’s position, of such events on Serbia’s EU accession. Disoski also pointed to the political ties between the Austrian People’s Party (OVP) and the Serbian Progressive Party, saying that both are connected with the European People’s Party (EPP), of which the Serbian Progressive Party is an associate member.

The parliamentary question will also address Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s contacts with Austrian politicians and whether those meetings discussed Serbia’s EU accession process and EU funding. “Austria’s position on the rule of law in Serbia should be clearly understandable also to the parliament,” Meri Disoski said.