The Austrian MEP, Lukas Mandl, has accused the leadership in Serbia of behaving aggressively in the Western Balkan region, by not accepting the past. Mandl emphasized that Serbia can be the engine of the economy in the region and contribute to the entire region, but the institutional leadership there is not doing such a thing.

Mandl, during his speech at the conference of the Universal Peace Federation, where “Peace, stability and demographic transition in the Western Balkans” is being discussed, said that the progress of the region is made only through cooperation and not conflict.

“Serbia could be the Germany of the Western Balkans, meaning the economic engine, meaning with the half of the population, the largest GDP of the region, Serbia could contribute a lot to the prosperity of its own people in the first place, ant to the prosperity of the region and of course to European integration of the region. Many people in Serbia do this, I want to emphasize that, but the Serbian leadership is not. Behave aggressively towards their neighbors, to never let the past go, or even to recognize the past”, he said.

He considered it necessary to carry out reforms in the six countries of the Western Balkans as a prerequisite for strategic investments and European integration.

“(In the region) Cooperation rather than confrontation, cooperation rather than conflict. This would be my recommendation to all in the Western Balkans… Investments are necessary, and the less bureaucratic the opportunities for investment would be, and the more rule of law will be in proper place, I know that from businesses in Austria and all over the European Union, the more likely it will be for investments to be done in Kosovo and all the Western Balkans. And education is a condition, and the health system and the social welfare are conditions for proper development. Reforms are necessary for all the Western Balkans states”, he said.