Picula: Vucic, Dodik lost a powerful patron with Orban’s departure

“Orban’s Hungary was, for Serbia under Vucic, the EU member state that systematically defended all of Belgrade’s destructive policies and blocked attempts to sanction the regime within European institutions,” Picula told Croatia’s public broadcaster HRT in response to a question about Orban’s close political ties with Vucic and Dodik.

Picula added that “the concerns of Vucic’s regime are best reflected in the pages of tabloids, which serve as the face of the regime and operate under its control,” the HRT reported.

“They are trying very hard to explain how the Hungarian scenario cannot in any way be replicated in Serbia. To me, it sounds like someone whistling in the dark because they are afraid,” said Picula, a Croatian MEP from the opposition Social Democratic Party.

According to him, Vucic and Dodik are not genuinely interested in Serbia or Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) joining the European Union (EU).

“Vucic simulates interest only in a procedural sense, solely because of the funds he kept receiving from Brussels, regardless of his actions,” the European Parliament rapporteur said.

He added that there is “every reason to finally change not only the European Union’s narrative toward Vucic’s Serbia, but more importantly - its policy.”

“The only language he understands is that of financial pressure. He is not concerned about the closing of negotiation chapters, but about the shutting off of financial flows,” Picula said.