Serbia

FNF Western Balkans hosts rapporteur of Renew Europe

„We want to see the Serbian people in the European Union, but not a Serbian regime that neglects rule of law and freedom of media.“ – This was the message that Helmut Brandstätter MEP, Rapporteur for the Western Balkans of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, and Dominik Oberhofer MP, EU spokesperson of the Neos group in the Austrian Parliament, sent during their visit to Serbia.

In talks with ALDE member party “Movement of Free Citizens” (PSG), democracy watchdog organisation CRTA, members of Belgrade Pride, and TV station N1, the liberal Members of Parliament learned about the deteriorating situation of media freedom and the rule of law in the country, as well as about the government’s disregard for parliament. According to the two parliamentarians, it is becoming increasingly visible that the president and the government are not working for the good of the Serbian people, but for their own agenda.

The Western Balkans office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation will continue to serve as a liaison office for European liberalism in this region, which is so important for European integration. It promotes dialogue between the civil societies of the Western Balkans and their European partners and thus facilitates political decision-making for the benefit of a successful European integration of the Western Balkan states for all sides.