It is a bad time to be indecisive in relation to Russia, said Manuel Saracin, the new German envoy for the Western Balkans. He supports EU enlargement, and calls the idea of skipping some steps along the way "interesting."
The politician of the German Greens, Manuel Saracin, has been officially appointed as the envoy of the German Government for the Western Balkans. It is a new function which, as heard in Berlin, should show that the region is one of Germany's priorities.
"I am especially happy because I have a lot of respect for Manuel Saracin and I know exactly how passionately he is committed to the interests of the Western Balkans," German Foreign Minister Analena Berbock said Wednesday in Berlin.
"Especially in the current situation, the stability and European perspective of the Western Balkans are the main strategic priority of Germany," added the head of diplomacy, also from the ranks of the Greens.
In the first interview he gave in his new position, Zaracin emphasized that the introduction of this position was planned long before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
About Serbia and Ukraine
Speaking about Serbia's decision not to support EU sanctions against Russia, Saracin said that this is "a bad time to be indecisive." "I assume that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić also sees that the Russian option is not attractive," he added in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
"It is in the Serbian interest to take a clear position. Ukraine shows what can happen when you rely on Russian promises. I believe that this is clear to everyone in Belgrade. It is important for the EU to clearly formulate the expectations we have from Serbia," added the Greens politician.
Saracin also said that he believes in the "future entry of the Western Balkan countries into the EU". "Among the experts, there is an interesting debate whether within the accession process certain steps can be accelerated and whether to create a certain fast lane."
"But these ideas must not lead to the weakening of the accession process, so that in the end we only talk about the concept of a privileged partnership. It is extremely important that the EU adheres to the accession process with the aim of full membership, because this is not only about economic integration, but above all about the approach to the EU as a community of values", stated Zaracin.
After Russia's suspension from the Council of Europe, it is possible that there is a two-thirds majority in that organization that would vote for Kosovo's membership. "Germany recognized Kosovo. It goes without saying that we advocate for the state we recognize to be represented in international organizations," Zaracin said. He added that it is up to Pristina to investigate whether it is the right moment to submit the request.
The fifth western envoy
Saracin was born in Dortmund in 1982, and has been living in Hamburg since 1995. He studied history, East European studies and law, first at the University of Bremen and then at the University of Hamburg.
He joined the Greens as a student in 1998. He was a member of the Bundestag from May 2008 to October 2021, where he was first the spokesperson of the Greens for Europe and then for Eastern Europe. Since 2020, Saracin has been the president of the respected "Society for Southeast Europe".
Now, as Minister Berbok said, "he will closely cooperate with the EU Special Representative for Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue Miroslav Lajčak and the High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Kristijan Šmit." A strong, stable and peace-based Western Balkans decides in South-Eastern Europe as well as the future of the EU."
Saracin is the fifth Western envoy for the Western Balkans: in addition to Lajcak and Schmidt, there is British Special Envoy Stuart Peach and American diplomat Gabriel Escobar.
Bonus video:
