Prebilič: Serbia can count on my support on its path to the EU

STRASBOURG- Slovenian MEP in the European Parliament Vladimir Prebilič from the Greens – European Free Alliance group stated today that Serbia can count on his support on its way to the EU and assessed that during the accession process the “prism should be reversed”, meaning that issues that can be resolved should be addressed first, and the problematic ones later.

“I really would like Serbia to join the European Union. I think we share more things than what divides us, so we should put on the table the things we can deal with now, and then we can talk about the problematic ones,” Prebilič told Tanjug in Strasbourg, on the last day of the EP’s constituent session. He assessed that so far things have been done the other way around. “It always starts from the other direction – putting on the table what cannot be done, not what can be done. Let’s reverse this prism, then I think everything will be easier,” Prebilič said. He added that he is interested in working on Serbia within the parliamentary delegation and expressed hope that he will get the chair position. He also emphasized that the EU needs to expand to the Western Balkans for stability and prosperity. “These countries need to be brought into the EU, I think that (represents) good prosperity for all and it is an opportunity to avoid some conflicts that are already emerging in the Western Balkans,” Prebilič noted.

He assessed that if there is no open discussion about issues and no way to bring the region closer to the EU, then the topic is missed. “This needs to be changed and you will surely have an ally in me to get this done, to change the narrative and change the stance because, from my point of view, we haven’t always done our job on the European side. There was a lot put forward as a prerequisite, but I think we need to listen to what the other side says, because not everything can be changed from today to tomorrow. Some flexibility needs to be shown,” Prebilič noted. The scenario, as he said, will be unfavorable “if the European story does not happen in the Western Balkans”. “We need to show flexibility, to show dignity and respect towards the countries of the Western Balkans. I think that this should be done at the beginning, that we need to open a dialogue on how things should actually go. If we take a step in this direction, anything is possible,” Prebilič stated.

When asked if Serbia can count on his support in the EP, he replied that it definitely can and stated that he will always be open to all possible problem-solving and challenges, but that it is also expected from Serbia, as the other side, “to do its homework”. “But let’s start this way by first (addressing) what is easier, and then we will deal with the other things later,” Prebilič said. He reminded that he is also the mayor of the town of Kočevje in Slovenia, which is a sister city with Prokuplje and noted that exchanges are organized and on a monthly level they discuss what can be done and how. “I think they have also adopted some of the reforms we made, which means that they have also made something in this direction,” Prebilič said, adding that they have friends in Serbia. (July 19)