Professor Vukosavic: Pressure on Belgrade’s Electrical Engineering Faculty over Jadar project

Although there were claims of government pressure on the faculty to take a position on the Jadar project, Vukosavic stated that high-ranking officials publicly called on experts to express their views, whether positive or negative and emphasized it was their duty.

Referring to the Law on Science, Vukosavic noted that research institutions are obligated to assist in shaping public policies, and the faculty had recognized the need to address the country's pressing issue. "I haven't heard any electrical engineer or technician speak positively about the Jadar project. We had prepared a single document outlining our negative stance, which was to be voted on," he said.

A secret ballot was held to gauge whether the majority wanted to express their opinion, considering potential risks, primarily financial. When the session was set to finalize the recommendation to halt the project, the dean expressed concern for his family. Vukosavic noted that such concerns made further discussion difficult.

The vice-deans also resigned, avoiding responsibility for replacing the dean. "There are pressures that can be endured, and those that cannot," Vukosavic added, referencing the previous case of the dean of the Faculty of Biology, who opposed the project.

Vukosavic expressed hope that a new dean would be elected soon but was unsure if a vote on the faculty's stance against the Jadar project would take place, suggesting that conditions for selecting a new dean might prevent further action on the issue.