A bunch of young folks from Serbia, Europe's most polluted country, sporting rather pricey cycling gear, came to Strasbourg, France, to complain about Serbian-made problems, and like all true fighters for human rights and democracy, they made a stop at the Serbian Orthodox Christian Church in Munich, because apparently they couldn't find enough churches in Serbia.
Author: Dejan Pantic
Marta Kos is still right about Serbia
European Commissioner Marta Kos emphasized that EU enlargement requires strong civil society, which Serbia lacks. Public opinion shows support for leaders like Hungary's Orbán and Russia's Putin, while many Serbians view the EU as imposing unacceptable conditions. This raises questions about Serbia's commitment to EU membership amid conflicting loyalties.
Vucic scored a major win on Saturday
Serbian conservative electorate that voted for Aleksandar Vučić for decades firmly believes that might is right and that public order supersedes the right to gathering and protests. The ruling coalition in Serbia will likely not lose any support by using repressive methods like the sonic cannon.
Stopping the USAID might be a good thing
The axing of the USAID program by the second Trump administration under the auspices of Elon Musk's DOGE will harm the developing nations. But have you ever considered that maybe the recipients of USAID never deserved help in the first place?
EU is right for ignoring Serbian protests
The EU faces challenges in supporting democracy in Serbia due to a lack of pro-democracy advocates within the country. An open letter from Commissioner Marta Kos emphasizes the need for inclusive dialogue and societal ownership in the EU accession process. Serbian society's blame towards the EU highlights deep-rooted nationalism and political conflict.
Lithium of discord
The Serbian protests against the lithium mining project proposed by Rio Tinto were not motivated by environmentalism but instead were aimed against the Serbian ruling kleptocratic coalition with an outpouring of anti-Western hysteria. Protesting against a non-existent, "neo-colonial" mining project is fashionable and safe over here. But it's an exercise in futility to try to damage President Vucic's standing by using his own rhetoric and methods.
Russo-Serbian oil conundrum
The latest exemption from US Treasury Department sanctions aimed at the Russo-Serbian oil company NIS AD has been extended until June 27th 2025.
The square circle logic of Serbian protests
Recent protests in Serbia, notably the general strike, aim to challenge the autocratic regime of President Vucic. However, the protests often lack effective impact as many businesses remain operational. Official demands focus on transparency and university funding, but protesters avoid directly calling for regime change due to socio-political taboos. The discontent reflects a deeper sense of national identity and responsibility.
Why the West should keep ignoring the Serbian protests
German political scientist Alexander Rotert fantasizes about Berlin's imaginary support for Serbia's authoritarian government under Vucic, arguing it prioritizes a lithium project over democratic concerns.
Putin’s war against the reality of planet Earth
The predominant political sentiment in Serbia and its national ambition is the revanchism for the lost wars of the 1990. The belief is that achieving the Greater Serbia can only be done with Russia and China asserting itself over the Collective West. That is why the Serbian people are Russia's most loyal cheerleaders in Europe.
Serbianism 