HISTORY CONDENSED

While we are celebrating many events and factors that make German-Serbian bilateral relations stronger, history might also be in the making. This largely depends on how the new Serbian government and parliament will deal with current accession issues

Long before the pandemic turned our world upside As such, 2020 might prove to be an historic year for down, it was well known that 2020 would be a year the region. There are several reasons for that: first, the packed with historic events. Included among them EU strongly demonstrated its interest in the region during are undoubtedly the anniversary of three decades of the crisis. This was demonstrated by EU financial support the reunification of Germany, a jubilee passionately debated of €3.3 billion to Serbia and rest of the Western Balkans; both within German borders and around Europe. Here in activation of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism during Serbia we are marking half of the century of the work of the the time of the pandemic and the expected inclusion of Goethe-Institut and preparing for the celebration of two the region in the EU developmental package including the decades of the existence of the German-Serbian Chamber a European Green Deal. of Commerce, technically in 2021. All of these events seek For their part, North Macedonia and Albania are right a different size and scope of thorough contemplation, and in the middle of their preparations for accession talks, fresh ideas about what to do next. which is an important milestone, while Serbia itself has the

Even without different kinds of jubilees, the year possible momentum required to galvanise its somewhat itself could have been remembered stalled accession negotiations. as an historic one, both at the global level and at the level of national economies. Early 2020 was marked It seems that 2020 might become an historic year in Indeed, such a shift seeks signifi cant effort from the new Serbian government and parliament to embrace by acceleration of the trade war Serbian records, as the one in a faster pace of reforms, in terms between U.S. and China, trouble some Brexit negotiations and, as a which no negotiation chapters of the rule of law and, in particular, judicial reform, media freedom and consequence, a slowdown in global were opened. However, things the fight against corruption. As Ger economic activity. This gave eve rybody a headache – from strong may look up before Germany's man Ambassador to Serbia Thomas Schieb put it: “the more progress economies like that of Germany, to EU presidency ends. on the rule of law, the more chapter the much smaller ones, such as the openings are possible.” Serbian, which is strongly dependent on its largest trade Furthermore, there is obviously the issues of the and investment partner. normalisation of relations with Kosovo, as well as the

Then the pandemic emerged, ensuring - among other general alignment of Serbia’s foreign policy record with things - that Germany’s EU presidency would a very difficult that of the EU. period in which many historical moves had been, and still One also has to keep in mind that 2020 might be an have to be, taken. The list is already long: an agreement historic year in Serbian records as the one in which no on the multi-annual financial framework for the EU for chapters were opened. Yet, as the clock ticks, space for the next seven years, plus an additional package of 750 optimism still lingers in the air. billion euros aimed at helping the recovery of the European Consequently, this edition of CorD, in which we address economy. The further complication of negotiations with all of the aforementioned issues and many more, might the UK, as well as the most important topic for our part become an important piece of evidence on how history of the world – the future of the EU enlargement process. has turned, one way or the other.