Sarrazin: Sonic weapon against peaceful demonstrators won’t bring Serbia closer to EU

Commenting on the ongoing protests in Serbia, Sarrazin told the Danas daily that the protests have raised issues important for the entire society: transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

“But it’s not my place to interpret the protests or speculate about their possible outcome. It is up to the citizens to freely express their views. What I believe is crucial is ensuring the freedom of assembly and the right of people to voice their opinions without pressure or threats to their safety. It is the responsibility of the Serbian government to guarantee the safety of peaceful demonstrators—both during and after the protests. The use of a sonic weapon against peaceful protesters, as well as actions taken by the prosecution or police against protest participants or civil society representatives, will not bring Serbia any closer to the European Union,” said Sarazzin.

Asked to comment on the absence of EU flags at student protests in Serbia, Sarrazin said that he was under the impression that many students were disappointed with the European Union. “After all, they are not seeking anything less than the rule of law, which is also the EU’s key demand in the process of Serbia’s accession and the main reason why this process is stagnating. The German government shares the concern about the state of democracy, rule of law and media freedom in Serbia and we expect the Serbian government to finally solve these shortcomings, because that is crucial for Serbia’s progress on the EU path,” Sarrazin said.

Commenting on the stance of a portion of the pro-European public that is turning against the EU, driven by the belief that European leaders support Aleksandar Vucic’s regime, Sarrazin said, “As Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos has explained, EU officials—and the same goes for the governments of member states—always engage in dialogue with elected officials in candidate countries, including President Vucic.”

“This does not mean that the EU turns a blind eye to the state of reforms or the situation in Serbia, particularly when it comes to the so-called fundamental principles. One of the reasons Serbia hasn’t opened a new chapter or cluster in the accession process for quite some time is precisely the lack of progress in key areas: the rule of law, media freedom, democratic standards,” he added.

Sarrazin declined to speculate on how the situation in Serbia might evolve, but said he would like to see Serbia become a full member of the European Union as soon as possible.

“I am certain that Serbia would greatly benefit from a credible reform path required for membership. And the EU, in turn, would benefit from the potential, creativity, culture, and passion of the Serbian people for their country, their region, and our shared European home,” he added.