Serbia exploiting Europe’s fear of Russia

Serbia started its accession negotiations with the EU on Tuesday, and is hoping to join the Union in 2020.

Brussels is under pressure to get things moving, the liberal daily Novi List believes:

Even if yesterday’s start to negotiations doesn’t put a stop to Belgrade’s flirtation with Russia, Serbia has irreversibly set off down the path to Europe. That being said, the larger geopolitical situation is to Serbia’s advantage. Not long ago some were saying the start of negotiations could be put off until the spring. But after the failure in Ukraine the EU doesn’t want to push Serbia into Russia’s arms or strengthen the anti-European factions in the country. And that’s exactly why Serbia has now been invited to the negotiating table, while Albania must wait until June.

… The negotiations could advance surprisingly quickly, because Belgrade has solid state structures, and the experienced government is fully aware of how it can use the geopolitical situation to its own advantage.