International Political Dialogue - Serbia and the EU: A Challenge for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty

International Political Dialogue - Serbia and the EU: A Challenge for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty [printable version]

Serbia and the EU: A Challenge for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty
Dialogue Programme Brussels

In the context of the Libernet cooperation the Brussels Dialogue Programme hosted a meeting of six Liberal Democrat city and community councillors and of a mayor from different parts of Serbia between 25 and 28 February 2008.

Accepting an invitation by the Dialogue Programme Brussels and the Belgrade Project Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the group of Liberal Democrat local politicians from Serbia visited the capital of Europe to discuss a variety of topics with representatives of European institutions and other multipliers working at the margins of the European Union. Another objective was to jointly develop ideas and concepts regarding political developments in Serbia and the process of association with the European Union.

Representatives of the delegation spoke to members of the European Parliament and of the Commission. They also described the difficulties facing Liberal Democrat western-oriented political leaders in Serbia and also found out more about Europe’s policy towards Serbia. Views regarding co-operation between regional and European levels were exchanged during a visit to the Committee of the Regions and when talking to stakeholders from German and Belgian regional and community bodies.

During this seminar, participants also worked on a concept for further deepening co-operation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in future and for focal subjects of follow-up seminars to be held in Serbia.

A few days later, in a gesture of solidarity with the Liberal Democrats of Serbia, Mr Wolfgang Gerhardt, Chairman of the Foundation and a member of the German Bundestag, and Ms Annemie Neyts, MEP, President of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party (ELDR) were on a visit to Belgrade. During this visit, Mr Gerhardt favored a continuation of the pro-European course and pledged his support to the chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Serbia.