Bogoljub J. Karić "Serbia, youth and the EU" from World Health Security News Agency

The International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies (IFIMES)[1] from Ljubljana, Slovenia, regularly analyzes events in the Middle East, the Balkans and around the world. 

Bogoljub J. Karić, a prominent businessman, prepared a comprehensive analysis entitled "Serbia, youth and the EU[2]", in which he presents his thoughts on the role and importance of youth animation on Serbia's path to the EU.

"To be credible, I believe we need to talk about timing and homework." And I have a suggestion. As we prepare the next EU strategic agenda, we must set ourselves a clear goal. I believe that we need to be ready on both sides for the enlargement year until 2030. This means that the next long-term EU budget will have to include our common goals. This is ambitious but necessary. It shows that we are serious. That will build momentum. It will give a transformative impetus to reforms and will generate interest, investment and better understanding, and encourage us all to work together[3].” Charles Michel

"We all have our history. The history of enlargement is the history of the countries that emerged from World War II. It is a history of peace and reconciliation and normalization of relations, and therefore it is a prerequisite for entering the European Union.[4]" Ursula von der Leyen

Recently, public opinion surveys have shown a drastic drop in Serbian citizens' support for EU membership, which is worrying. Only slightly more than 40% of Serbian citizens want EU membership. For me, this is at the same time disappointing information, especially the disinterest of young people in EU membership. At the same time, interest in some other integrations such as BRICS has grown. Serbia needs to cooperate with all parts of the world, however, membership in the EU is Serbia's strategic interest and unequivocal determination, and this is often emphasized by President Aleksandar Vučić, and we should persevere in that.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said in Bled that in 2030 the countries of the Western Balkans could become members of the EU. When we look at the individual experiences of member states in the accession process, e.g. Slovenia, it is not unrealistic and unachievable. We should build our way to the EU on the knowledge and experiences of others, because this has already been proven and verified in practice. Slovenia started membership negotiations in 1998, and became a full member of the EU in 2004. Everything lasted only six years. Then 10 new countries were admitted to EU membership. At the time, the prevailing opinion in Europe was that the enlargement would benefit everyone, which proved to be correct.

The forerunner of the EU "Coal and Steel Community" was created primarily as a peace project. That peace project needs to be transferred to our region. Preventive action is needed to prevent potential conflicts in the Western Balkans, because it would cost us much more than EU enlargement alone. People in the Western Balkans do not want conflicts, because they want peace, well-being and prosperity. The perspective of membership is the best possible mechanism that the EU has at its disposal in its engagement in the region in terms of ensuring permanent stability. Such thoughts coincide with the views of the majority of European leaders, who support the continuation of the open door policy when it comes to the Western Balkans. The establishment of a new "iron curtain" towards the Western Balkans must not occur on the European continent. The international position of each newly admitted EU member state is stronger than it was before EU membership, because as an EU member you sit at the same table and can influence events in the EU itself, but also on relations between the EU and the wider international community. By becoming a member of the EU, the country is included in a successful community of states, which, in exchange for the transfer of a part of sovereignty, offers advantages in economic, security and other areas. The EU is directed towards overall progress, each nation must take care of preserving its cultural and national identity. The EU provides opportunities, which each individual member must know how to take advantage of. No one within the EU has lost their national identity, but rather strengthened it. Look at the example of the peoples close to us, the Bulgarians, the Greeks...

I want to emphasize the role of young people in the process of joining Serbia towards EU membership, because EU membership is an investment for the future. We note the trend of emigration from the country, especially of young people. Thanks to the implementation of active policies of our authorities, this is slowly being stopped. We must bring the EU to Serbia and Serbia to the EU, and then the need for emigration will decrease, but normal migration will take place within EU member states. This means that people from other EU countries will come to live and work in Serbia. In this, the role and experience of our diaspora, which is already in the EU, is important. Young people tend to be international: they want to study and work abroad, and they see the EU as a factor of stability in Europe. Even long after the Second World War, there is still a high number of respondents who believe that peace represents a very important value of the EU, because Europe should forever be a continent of peace. 

That is why it is important to animate young people, to be the bearers of Serbia's European path. One of the proposals is lowering the age limit for voting from the current 18 to 16, and that is the real need for intergenerational balance in decision-making, the potential for increased engagement and the benefits of inclusivity. Initiatives to lower the voting age are gaining ground globally, driven by the belief that every voice, regardless of age, should be heard in a truly representative democracy. Some countries have recently lowered the general voting age to 16, e.g. Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, while there are serious public discussions about it in many countries, e.g. in the Czech Republic, Finland, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Australia, Japan... Young generations, especially those whose views are directed towards other parts of the world, integrations, organizations and spheres of interest, should open their eyes well and that they do not look only with emotions and indoctrinated, but rationally and to see what is good and in the interest of Serbia and its citizens. Serbia has always been part of and belonged to Europe. We share Europe's destiny, but we also contribute to its present and future.

As a business person, I often travel around the world and see and hear a lot. I also see numerous migrations, which are mostly directed towards EU member states. Obviously, the EU is an attractive place to live and work. I can confirm this as a business person, that the EU is an excellent business environment. After the start of negotiations between Ukraine and Moldova with the EU and the granting of candidate status to Georgia, I see no obstacles for the countries of the Western Balkans to become members of the EU. And it will be a win-win situation for everyone and a confirmation of our belonging to Europe.

Bogoljub J. Karić was born in 1954 in Peć/Peja. He graduated from the Faculty of Science and Mathematics in Prishtina, at the Department of Geography. He received his master's degree at the Faculty of Economics in Niš on the subject "Organization and development of small businesses". Together with three brothers and a sister, he founded the family factory "Braća Karić" in Peć in 1971. In a period of almost half a century, he developed a large company that operates in various fields around the world: telecommunications, construction, finance, education, media, trade... The article represents the author's position and does not necessarily reflect the position of IFIMES. Ljubljana/Belgrade, February 16 in 2024

[1] IFIMES - International Institute for Middle Eastern and Balkan Studies based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has a special advisory status at the Economic and Social Council ECOSOC/UN, New York, since 2018 and is the publisher of the international scientific journal "European Perspectives".

.[2] The article was written based on the presentation at the international conference "Serbia, youth and the European Union", held on February 8, 2024 in Belgrade, organized by Alfa BK University and the "Braća Karić" Foundation.

[3] European Council, Speech by President Charles Michel at the Bled Strategic Forum, link: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/08/28/speech-by-president -charles-michel-at-the-bled-strategic-forum/

[4] Euronews, Von der Leyen vows to bring Western Balkan and EU economies 'closer' as four-day visit starts, link: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/10/30/von- der-leyen-vows-to-bring-western-balkan-and-eu-economies-closer-as-four-day-visit-start