EU Offers Political Pact to Serbia

The European Union has offered an interim political agreement to Serbia. Announced one week before Serbia's Presidential runoff election, is EU influencing the vote?

The European Union (EU) has invited Serbia to sign an interim agreement on February 7 that would provide a framework for progress on political dialogue, free trade, visa liberalization and educational cooperation. Most EU members wanted to sign a full Stabilization and Association Agreement with Belgrade, but the Netherlands insisted that the Serbian government must first show full cooperation with the United Nations war crimes tribunal on the former Yugoslavia.

This EU gesture comes one week before Serbia's Presidential runoff election between incumbent pro-European President Boris Tadic and his nationalistic, pro-Russian opponent, Tomislav Nikolic. The results of the January 20 primary election were inconclusive, with Nikolic receiving 39.99% of the vote, while Tadic captured 35.39%. The runoff election is required by Serbian law, which states the victorious candidate must receive an absolute majority of votes (50% + 1).

The timing of the European Union's offer makes me wonder if they are trying to influence Serbia's runoff election. The announcement of this pact may provide much-needed help for Tadic's campaign. A Tadic victory would bolster pro-European forces before Kosovo's expected declaration of independence. However, if Nikolic wins, Serbia may revert back to its exclusionist past - not what most of Europe wants to see.

Come back next week for full coverage of the Serbian Presidential election.