Political Priorities of Serbia: Between Trans-Atlantic, Sino-American, and EU-China Relations

In the face of looming global challenges, Serbia finds itself navigating a complex and uncertain landscape. The ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, coupled with heightened tensions in the Western Balkans region, have placed the country in a precarious position. The past year has been particularly turbulent for Serbia, marked by widespread anti-government protests and snap elections in December 2023, which were marked by allegations of electoral fraud, both on national and local levels. On a foreign policy level, developments such as the United Nations Srebrenica resolution and developments regarding Kosovo’s Council of Europe membership application have further inflamed public discourse and increased political tensions in Serbia. Meanwhile, exactly a decade since the start of the accession talks, Serbia’s journey toward the EU shows no encouraging signs of the necessary change.

Amidst these challenges, the European Policy Centre (CEP – Belgrade) and Le Grand Continent organised a closed discussion titled “Political Priorities of Serbia and the Balkans between Trans-Atlantic, Sino-American, and EU-China Relations in Times of Global Changes.” The event was held under the Chatham House rule and gathered over 20 experts from civil society, academia and the private sector who shared their insights, perspectives, and opinions on the pressing issues facing Serbia. The discussion was divided into two panels, with the first one focusing on offering an outlook on Serbia’s internal situation in the context of its EU accession process, while the second focused on the country’s foreign policy amidst shifting global dynamics. This paper presents a summary of the discussions and offers important insights publicly while respecting the Chatham House rule and protecting participants’ names and affiliations.