European Serbia Ticket: Serbia Must Join EU by 2030

European Serbia Ticket (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

Jasna Matic, a candidate on the European Serbia electoral ticket in the upcoming early parliamentary elections in Serbia, said on Oct. 21 that Serbia must step up its European Union integration and become a member by 2030, arguing that this is the only way out of the political and institutional crisis in the country.

"As far as we are concerned, in these current circumstances, which are extremely complex in the world, there is no other way out of the crisis but to become a member of the European Union," Matic said in a statement. According to her, only the EU supports Serbian citizens who are protesting and demanding upholding of the law, functional institutions and fighting corruption.

Matic said that, if the electoral ticket of the university student protest movement wins the Oct. 25 early parliamentary election, the new government should immediately seek EU support in carrying out reforms and fighting crime and corruption. "Our plan is the year 2030. If the Student Ticket wins, we would call the European Union on the first day, seek assistance and support for reforms, for curbing corruption," Matic stressed, adding that help should be sought from European chief prosecutor Laura Kovesi.

She said the current government has devastated institutions and the rule of law over the last 14 years, while the student protest movement has given the people back the hope that change is possible. Matic said that, if the European Serbia electoral ticket fails to cross the election threshold, it would be the outcome of years of campaigns against Serbia's association with the EU, especially in the media and social media.