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European Western Balkans
Editorial

An Open Letter to the Austrian Chancellor: From the Danube, with Clarity

Dear Chancellor Nehammer,

We have not had the opportunity to meet or exchange views directly. Your predecessors were far more accessible, regularly engaging with civil society and media representatives from the Western Balkans. Those exchanges resulted in tangible progress, fostering regional cooperation and advancing the European integration of the Western Balkans.

I understand that your schedule must be demanding, with pressing national priorities that may leave little time for the complexities of our region. It is precisely for this reason that I felt compelled to write to you. Your recent tweet left me quite surprised.

Frankly, I find it difficult to believe that you personally crafted such a statement. It seems more likely that one of your advisors provided information that was either outdated or misinformed. Perhaps the festive atmosphere of Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt clouded their judgment… These things happen – we are all human. Or perhaps they inhabit what we here call the “parallel universe of Ursula von der Leyen.” Who can say? Nevertheless, with its esteemed tradition of understanding the Western Balkans from its strategic vantage point along the Danube, Austria surely has access to accurate and up-to-date information on Serbia’s situation.

Serbia has been in a state of slow-burning, but also permanent political crisis since the 2016 elections. Unfortunately, what you wrote does not align with reality. Serbia can no longer be classified as a democratic nation, and as for the rule of law, well… there is little left to discuss. Many of its citizens might describe Serbia as a textbook example of a kleptocratic-authoritarian regime. This represents a significant decline from the liberal democracy Serbia enjoyed following the democratic changes of 2000, a status that has steadily eroded over the past decade.

Freedom House, in its 2024 report, highlights that the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has systematically undermined political rights and civil liberties, exerting pressure on independent media, the opposition, and civil society. Incidentally, this same SNS is an associate member of the European People’s Party (EPP), which, as you know, also includes your Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP).

Recent reports from Amnesty International paint an even grimmer picture, revealing that Serbia’s security services have been spying on journalists and opposition activists by installing spyware on their phones (myself included). These developments underscore Serbia’s alarming democratic backsliding.

It was thoughtful of you to mention democracy and the rule of law at the end of your tweet, along with President Vučić’s name. However, let us be honest: neither democracy nor the rule of law figures prominently among President Vučić’s priorities. The opening of Cluster 3 in EU accession talks should benefit Serbian citizens, not merely their leader.

Between us, we both know that President Vučić would not extend the same courtesy to you. He seems to have more favourable allies in Austria, namely the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which his party members all but endorsed ahead of the Austrian elections. People, after all, tend to associate with those who share their values.

To be clear, I fully support the opening of all EU accession clusters as soon as possible, but only if this aligns with meaningful improvements in democracy and the rule of law. I hope you might find the time during the holidays to reassess the role of your advisors. It is disheartening to see the leader of a respected EU member state such as Austria undermined on public platforms due to questionable advice.

Please extend my regards to your colleague, Mr. Mitsotakis.

I wish you and your team a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Respectfully,

Nemanja Todorović Štiplija
Editor-in-Chief, European Western Balkans

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