REGIONAL COOPERATION IN THE BALKANS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF EUROATLANTISM AND EURASIANISM: PARADOXICAL EFFECT OF ‘EURO-ATLANTIC’ CEFTA PROJECT ON STRENGTHENING THE TIES BETWEEN SERBIA AND THE RS

Abstract

The process of European integration, which includes the CEFTA, mitigates the disintegration of the Serbian national corpus. With active support of western international community, which, among other things, sees it as a way for the pacification of the region, economic connections in the area are legalized and legitimized, especially between Serbia and Republika Srpska (that is B&H). Comparing data on population of EU28 (506 million), Serbia and RS (7.1 and 1.2 million people) we come to the conclusion that there is a very high intensity of trade between Serbia and RS.

With some caution it can be concluded that the economic cooperation among the countries of the Western Balkans, with CEFTA as the backbone structure, is a strategic interest of Serbia and the RS. In addition to economic cooperation, there is also the intensification of cultural ties, primarily thanks to a common language and similar cultural matrix, which is a legacy of the former Yugoslavia (although it existed prior to its formation).

CEFTA is in fact an example of how the interests of Serbia, RS and other countries in the region and the international community can coincide. It is clear that CEFTA is primarily a political project of the EU (and part of the Euro-Atlantic geopolitical orientation), with the aim of pacifying the region and its preparation for EU membership. In addition, CEFTA is in line with the national interests of Serbia and the RS to intensify economic links.

In the coming years, due to European integration and CEFTA, Serbia and Republika Srpska will deepen the institutional economic (and to a lesser extent, political) ties that existed in the former Yugoslavia (uniform standards and customs, some elements of fiscal policy and later the common currency). The likely entry of these republics into the EU during the third decade of the 21st century will further strengthen economic and political ties between Serbia and RS. In addition, the entry of B&H into the EU would, among other things, democratize and practically cement entity veto power, which would give the RS ability to influence policy of B&H, inter alia, in the area of relations with Serbs in the region.