Zagreb University Professor: Picula Holds No Bias Against Serbia

Tonino Picula (BETAPHOTO/European Parliament/Philippe BUISSIN)

On Oct. 24, Dejan Jovic, a professor at the University of Zagreb School of Political Science, expressed his belief that new European Parliament rapporteur for Serbia Tonino Picula holds no bias against Serbia and will focus his attention on democracy, human rights, media freedom and Serbia’s stance toward Russia.

Picula, a MEP from the Social Democratic Party of Croatia who took over his latest appointment from Slovenia’s Vladimir Bilcik, commended the European Union’s renewed focus on enlargement and stressed that the accession process must be founded on meeting criteria.

Professor Jovic recalled that Picula previously served as the EP’s rapporteur for Montenegro and that, therefore, “in a way it isn’t surprising he was now given Serbia.”

“I believe he doesn’t have a negative bias against Serbia and Serbs, but he is likely to insist on social democratic values, because he is a member of that party and that party bloc, i.e. the state of democracy in [Serbia] and, on the other hand, will push Serbia to take a clearer stance toward Russia. I believe those to be the main two points [Picula will focus on],” Jovic told BETA’s Daily European Service.

With regards to Kosovo, Jovic believes that Picula will not have any significant authority, given that there are other special envoys and negotiators dealing with this issue.