In the past two years, Diplomacy&Commerce magazine has given to its readers abundance of news from politics, business and culture, has reported on the opinions of relevant stakeholders both from Serbia and abroad, covering all segments of life, and opened up topics that were not written or talked about enough. With its latest issue, Diplomacy&Commerce is celebrating its second anniversary in Serbia. We are very proud of the fact that, in two years and 24 issues, we have managed to interview the leaders of the Serbian political, business and diplomatic community, as well as the renowned regional and the global public figures. In these past 24 issues, we have also published special supplements dedicated to overall relations between Serbia and European and world countries.
We have asked Serbian officials – Serbian PM, government ministers, ambassadors and representatives of business associations in Serbia – to give us their opinions about the most important changes that Serbia should make in order to become an EU member, and about the investment climate in the West Balkan region.
1. What do you think are essentially the most important changes that Serbia should make in order to be ready for EU membership by 2025?
2. Do Serbia and the Western Balkans have enough capacity to attract large multi-nation companies to their markets?
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In order to be fruitful, every change must be a result of a peaceful and systematic approach by the changemakers. Changes must allow for a period of adaptation of both systems and people in order to become an integral part of a new behaviour. In this context, the European integration process is the best mechanism for introducing new standards and models of behaviour, or those that we have forgotten. Deadlines are important so we can plan well, as it is to have a clearer timeframe, i.e. the said year 2025. It is equally important how we see ourselves in the mirror, so to speak, and what others see in us, in addition to continuing with the implementation of the best European values in our social pattern, political action and economic governance. I think that solidarity and respect for human rights, responsible management of economic resources, and cooperation as the pillar of security and regional development are the dominant social and political values in today’s Serbia.
2. I am not too fond of the syntagm called the Western Balkans, as I think it is an incomplete reflection of an important part of the SEE to which we belong. But since it has already been put into use, and since the EU sees us as a region, then it should also be used for the common benefit. We have already significantly improved our economic, fiscal and investment capacities in order to be able to compete in the EU market of a nearly half a billion consumers. We are working on further developing the transport and business infrastructure. The prerequisites have already been met, numerous companies have already arrived in Serbia, and we expect more big investors to come this year too. The future of Serbia, and I believe the so-called WB, is in the EU but we all have to make additional effort to strengthen the trust and cooperation in the region. Serbia has demonstrated its responsibility in this respect.