Serbia and its neighbors: Continuity of old and/or new policy?

Abstract

The authors of this paper analyze the progress made in relations with the countries surrounding Serbia - in the regions of South East Europe and the Western Balkans, and upon the formation of the new government of Serbia (27th July 2012). In this regard, they point out the improvement of bilateral relations with the countries of the so-called old neighborhood (Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Albania and Greece), as well as the 'new' neighbors (Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia). Therefore, the authors emphasize that it is not only the continuity of the policy of improving relations in the region, but some concrete actions to advance a good-neighborly relations have been taken as well. According to the authors resolution of many accumulated problems with neighbors will result in acceleration of the process of European integration of Serbia and the rest of the Western Balkans. This will prove to be a significant benefit to citizens of all countries in this part of Europe. Serbia has thus positioned itself as a reliable regional partner for its immediate environment, as well as to the leading factors of world politics, the authors conclude.

Autori u ovom radu analiziraju napredak u odnosima Srbije sa državama okruženja - Jugoistočne Evrope i Zapadnog Balkana, a nakon formiranja nove Vlade Srbije (27. jul 2012). U tom smislu oni su ukazali na unapređenje bilateralnih odnosa sa državama takozvanog starog susedstva (Mađarska, Rumunija, Bugarska i Albanija), kao i sa 'novim' susedima (Makedonija, Crna Gora, Bosna i Hercegovina i Hrvatska). Zato autori naglašavaju da se ne radi samo o kontinuitetu dosadašnje politike poboljšanja odnosa u regionu, već i da su preduzete određene konkretne aktivnosti kako bi se dobrosusedski odnosi unapredili. Regulisanje brojnih i nagomilanih problema sa susedima rezultiraće, navode autori, ubrzanjem procesa evropskih integracija Srbije, kao i ostatka Zapadnog Balkana. Od navedenog rešavanja bilateralnih pitanja značajnu korist će imati i građani svih država ovog dela Evrope. Srbija se tako, zaključuju autori, pozicionirala kao pouzdan regionalni partner za svoje neposredno okruženje, ali i vodeće faktore svetske politike.