"I look forward to accompanying Serbia, as a fundamentally European country, on part of the thorny road to the European Union. Germany will remain a strong partner during this challenging process and supports Serbia and its citizens."
Anke Holstein worked at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Sarajevo from 1998 to 2001. After that, she was the permanent deputy head of the mission in the embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Moscow, Tirana and Ljubljana, ambassador in Djibouti and Skopje. Now she is the ambassador in Belgrade.
Given his previous diplomatic experience and interest, he does not come to unfamiliar, "post-Yugoslav" terrain, which often functions according to the principle of merged courts. On the contrary. She participated in painstaking international efforts to overcome the war divisions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in North Macedonia she helped to overcome the Greek and Bulgarian obstacles that paved the way for North Macedonia to the European Union, in Albania she participated in the reform of the judicial system, which was the basis for the European integration of the country.
She was, among other things, a political advisor in the European Diplomatic Service and in the General Directorate for Foreign Affairs at the European Commission in Brussels, deputy head of the department for relations between the European Union and the countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans at the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin.
That's why we started the interview with her without hesitation, with an essential question.
WEATHER: Is Serbia a democratic country??
HOLSTEIN: First of all, I am very happy that I have the opportunity to live and work in Serbia, to further improve our bilateral relations and to accompany the country on its way to the European Union.
Regarding your question, I have been working in Russia for the last three and a half years. There, people in the 1990s and 2000s had high hopes that the country would develop towards democracy. Unfortunately, Russia today is far from that ideal and has increasingly turned into an autocracy.
Serbia, on the other hand, has all the elements of democracy. Serbia has a constitution, institutions, a multi-party system and elected members of parliament. These elements should be used and further developed in the best democratic spirit.
Serbia has a diverse and active society, which stands up for its interests and the welfare of its country in democratic processes. Every democracy thrives thanks to the engagement of its citizens. Free and fair elections, free media, independent and efficient institutions and protection of basic rights - these are the standards by which every democracy must be measured, including democracy in Serbia. In the EU accession process, it is of the utmost importance that democratic standards are improved and put into practice.
After December 2021. Serbia did not open a single chapter in the EU accession process. How Germany assesses the situation in Serbia regarding the rule of law and media freedom?
We want Serbia to become a member of the EU as soon as possible. However, the accession process is a results-based procedure. The decision on whether new chapters will be opened depends both on the technical prerequisites and on the progress in the "fundamental issues", the so-called. Fundamentals, primarily in the area of the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption and organized crime, and freedom of the media. Serbia has achieved significant progress in some areas, while stagnation has been noted in others. The latest EU report for Serbia even pointed to a setback in the area of freedom of thought and expression. We are concerned about the increasingly frequent attacks and threats directed against journalists and members of civil society. That must change urgently.
We hope that the new Council of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) will be able to start working soon and that the institution will fulfill its important role in an independent and transparent manner.
We welcome any concrete improvements, such as the implementation of the recommendations of the ODIHR or the Venice Commission. In this matter, Serbia has shown in recent months how quickly progress can be achieved. We hope that this positive dynamic will continue and that Serbia will continue to work actively to implement the ODIHR recommendations.
Democracy, the rule of law and a free media are integral to the path to EU membership, whether it is full membership or specific areas such as the single market or the Schengen area.
Montenegro is considered the next member of the EU. Albanija, also, is making considerable progress in the process of European integration. Do you recognize the will of the current authorities to adapt Serbia to EU standards??
Each country will be evaluated based on its results and its progress. Montenegro and Albania have made significant progress in certain areas. The speed with which this was achieved could serve as a motivational boost for all candidates for EU accession. Serbia has repeatedly confirmed its strategic goal of EU membership and set an ambitious time frame.
In the last few months we have seen that positive development can be achieved when there is political will. The reforms that Serbia is implementing now are not only crucial for EU accession, but also result in tangible improvements for citizens, such as visa-free travel and the possibility of transfers within the SEPA zone.
However, it is crucial that there really is political will to implement the necessary reforms decisively and consistently. Germany continuously supports Serbia on this path, primarily through instruments of development cooperation, where it is the largest bilateral donor with a total of 2,5 billion euros. Germany supports the EU Growth Plan and the Reform Agenda. Progress opens doors, while stagnation or regression slows down the process. We hope for unequivocal, sustainable steps by the Serbian government.
It is no secret that Belgrade cultivates close friendly political and economic relations with Moscow and Beijing. Is Serbia a reliable partner of Germany and the EU??
Serbia is an important partner of Germany and the EU: economically and in terms of regional politics, especially in terms of stability in the Western Balkans. The fact that Germany is Serbia's largest bilateral trade partner and investor shows that we have confidence in the country and its development. German companies employ approximately 90.000 people in Serbia.
At the same time, the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU is of key importance. Candidate countries are expected to gradually align with this policy. Close relations with third countries are normal, as long as they do not undermine the European path and common values.
Reliability is shown by the willingness to support common European positions and to consistently implement the reform agenda. Together, Europe has a much stronger negotiating position in the world. Every member state benefits from it, both now and in the future.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić repeated on Monday that they are NATO members, including Germany, once bombed Serbia in order to seize Kosovo from it. What is your comment on that??
The population of Kosovo has the right to determine its own destiny. The NATO operation "Allied Force" was, unfortunately, necessary to prevent a humanitarian disaster in Kosovo. After long and intense diplomatic efforts, it was the last resort to protect the civilian population.
The NATO operation was not directed against civilian targets. We mourn the victims of this conflict. That is all the more reason to work together today for a peaceful future for the region.
Germany and the EU are closely monitoring the situation in Kosovo. We remain committed to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the sustainable normalization of relations based on the EU-mediated process and existing agreements. Both parties have a responsibility to engage in dialogue in good faith. We expect both sides to implement the agreements from the Brussels and Ohrid agreements, and resolving the attack in Banjska is crucial for the credibility of Serbia.
We must look to the future: stability, reconciliation and European integration are important now. The future of all Western Balkan countries is in the EU.
How do you assess the current political relations between Germany and Serbia??
Relations are close, friendly and in a spirit of deep mutual respect. Political dialogue is intense and open, and economic ties are extremely strong. Germany remains Serbia's largest bilateral development partner and supports Serbia in areas such as energy and economic transformation, vocational education system, good governance and social inclusion.
We intend to further deepen this partnership, create more opportunities for meetings and constructive exchanges, and continue to support Serbia on its way to the EU. Avoiding certain issues does not affect the fundamental interest of both parties for stable relations, directed towards the future.
Is Germany still interested in lithium from Serbia??
Germany, the EU and Serbia have a strategic interest in the safe and sustainable supply of critical raw materials for the green transformation and European industry, especially for e-mobility. We are considering all options for the supply of lithium and other critical raw materials, taking into account ecology and public opposition. Each project must meet the highest environmental, social and legal standards.
Germany can provide expertise and have an advisory function when it comes to sustainability and transparency. However, decisions on specific construction projects are made by Serbia. We support a responsible, rules-based approach within the EU-Serbia strategic partnership for raw materials.
Why is there nothing else between the overcome regime and the changes? What does the regime mean when it says it is defending Serbia? Why is the Student Movement indomitable? Who has the knowledge and real experience, and who leads without a day of work experience outside of politics? And why students win
After almost two years of protests, hundreds of kilometers walked, arrests, persecution and unprecedented social mobilization, Serbia is holding elections that could mark the end of a political era. Sociologist Marija Babović tells "Vreme" that the hope for change has not been so great since October 5, 2000, but she also warns of the danger that, if changes are not made, the country will face an even tougher authoritarian regime.
Their only weapon now is the media they control: like, we don't have an agenda, which is not true; as, we will betray the national interest, which is not true. One of their arguments is that we are afraid to go to the debate with Vučić. They do not understand that it is their punishment. This is a punishment for Aleksandar Vučić, who for 14 years conducted exclusively a monologue. For fourteen years he did not allow anyone any kind of dialogue, and now he would like to be rewarded or pardoned with the opportunity to talk to us. Well, he won't be able to. What he sowed is now reaping
These elections are not elections about Serbia's membership in the European Union, Kosovo and Metohija, gay marriage, tax policy or any other single political issue. Although parties on the fringes of political power try to impose these themes, at the heart of the upcoming political election is a much simpler dilemma: change or preserve the existing order. For more than a year now, surveys have shown that this is the primary dilemma on the ballot
In the RS, 19.800 people registered for the elections in Serbia, who will be able to vote at 28 polling stations. It remains unknown how many of them will cross the Drina on October 25 and vote in Serbia. In any case, I do not believe that the voters from Republika Srpska are the ones who will decide the winner of the elections in Serbia. Realistically, the voters from Republika Srpska can influence a little, but it seems that they are symbolically very important to both Vučić and the opposition.
There is, literally, no difference between the one who claims it is day in the middle of the night, or the one who claims to be a giraffe, from the claims we read on billboards: that Vučić is working to unify Serbs and that Serbia is doing better and better day by day.
The pre-election arrests due to the alleged "overthrow of the state" testify to the regime's panic. The bad news for them is - they can't arrest the whole people who decided to defend themselves from progressive beatings and election theft
The ring that tightens around Ćaciland Student list is getting narrower. Because there are more and more spoiled people who see the false prophet for what he is: a street obscener who is fighting Serbia
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