Serbia and European Union - Waiting for Godot

Abstract

The paper examines European perspective of the Serbia. Serbian approach to the membership of the EU has been passed through several phases. The first phase comprised the period after democratic changes which happened in Serbia (Oct. 5th, 2000) and establishing economic and diplomatic relations of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) with European Union by visit of that time president of FRY to European Council (Oct. 2000). Serbia and European Union entered a new phase (the second phase) with the adoption of the “Thessaloniki Agenda for the Western Balkans” which affirmed the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries. Basis of Serbia – European Union relations and cooperation is defined in “European Partnership for the Republic of Serbia’s”, an instrument with which moving towards European Integration by which it was foreseen so called European Partnership. The third phase comprises the period from the date of signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement between Serbia and European Union (May, 2008) shortly before election held in Serbia in May. Immediately after its signing the Agreement was set out of force until the conditions of total cooperation of Serbia with the Hague Tribunal are to be fulfilled The fourth phase - current phase, has challenged with global world financial and economic crises which could delay enlargement of the European Union with new countries.