Erkki Bahovski, Editor-in-Chief of ICDS Diplomaatia magazine noted in the Serbian daily Danas that the joint statement of 13 EU countries will not accelerate the pace of EU integration when it comes to fulfilling the criteria that is expected from the candidate countries, but the plea might have a political meaning.
According to Bahovski, the joint statement might encourage pro-European forces in countries that strive for EU membership, and will remind other EU countries that enlargement still exists. “Finally, it is possible that the plea of 13 countries will serve as a warning that Russia and China might increase their influence in the Balkans,“ Bahovski said.
Read the full article in Serbian at https://www.danas.rs/politika/novopridoslice-u-eu-protiv-politike-francuske/