MEĐUNARODNI PROBLEMI

Abstract ▼

The paper analyzes the process of institutionalization of intergovernmental cooperation and coordination of state policies through the mechanism of cooperation between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEEC) and China, known in the public as “16 + 1” (i.e., “17 + 1” starting in 2019). Through an eclectic picture of the development of contemporary international relations, the authors indicate in a methodologically accessible manner that this mechanism of cooperation is a significant impetus for the development of international relations. Since China has taken a dominant role in redefining the Global Management System, whose goals are balanced and sustainable international development, to achieve them, China has identified certain ideological frameworks that are present in its foreign policy through the Belt and Road Initiative. Through this Initiative, China seeks to achieve the broader goals of the New Silk Road development strategy, which not only determines the directions of China’s internal development, but provides guidance for its strategic cooperation with neighbouring countries as well as with countries on other continents. Consequently, the mechanism itself thus plays an important role in strengthening China’s foreign policy position, not only with respect to CEEC, but also with respect to other European countries, including the EU as a whole.

Abstract ▼

The topic of this article is the Serbian foreign policy between its main strategic aims – membership in the European Union, and cooperation with China in the framework of the Belt and Road initiative. Serbia bases its foreign policy upon four pillars – the accession process to the EU and three strategic partnerships with great world powers – China, the United States of America, and Russia. However, the accession process to the EU requires from Serbia to strictly follow its obligations from the Stabilization and Association Agreement, Treaty Establishing the Transport Community, and other treaties signed with the EU which might sometimes conflict with project activities from the Belt and Road partnership process. These obligations relate mostly to competition and environmental protection. The author gives the analysis of the main points of possible conflict and indicates a double standard in the EU approach to the Belt and Road initiative. Then he presents arguments that indicate the Belt and Road can serve as a bridge between candidate countries and the EU internal market. The author concludes that although there exist some structural justifications to EU’s skepticism towards the Belt and Road, the best way to overcome them is to insist on political dialogue on many existing levels between the EU and China, with the aim to exchange information between them on EU rules, policies and standards to make sure Chinese investments and other financial activities in Serbia are in accordance with its accession obligations.

Abstract ▼

This article advocates the thesis that the People’s Republic of China, in accordance with a strong geopolitical strategy, is using geo-economics tools in the context of reshaping global powers’ influence in diverse parts of the world. One of these spatial dimensions of Chinese emerging domination refers to the Western Balkans, primarily through the economic presence of China in this region. To address this issue first will be considered concepts of geopolitics and geo-economics, followed by highlighting China’s presence in the Western Balkans region and flourishing infrastructure projects in the domain of transport and energy. The research is conducted by relying on the existing databases on China’s economic involvement in different economy sectors worldwide, mainly from China Global Investment Tracker (CGIT) and AidData’s Global Chinese Official Finance Dataset for the WB countries in the period 2013-2018. Special attention is given to China’s benefits in terms of realizing those projects, even though the Western Balkans countries’ market is not attractive per se. Finally, some concluding remarks have been made in terms of the potentials of China’s strategy to reconsider political and security dynamics in the Western Balkans.

Abstract ▼

The NATO military intervention in Yugoslavia took place twenty years ago, triggering several important consequences not only regarding the Kosovo case but also on the global level. This paper concentrates on the issue of the relevance of the Kosovo Case for the concept of remedial secession. The main argument of the paper is that the Kosovo Case is of the utmost importance for the above concept because it has motivated numerous states to officially accept the existence of remedial secession in international law. Several decades ago, this was hardly imaginable. Even though the Kosovo Case has not motivated states to change the formal sources of international law in this regard, it could change the way international actors behave when they make decisions about secession. Therefore, one of the conclusions of the paper is that, after Kosovo, the genie of remedial secession could not be put back in the bottle.

Abstract ▼

Following the enlargement of the Union, new neighbours in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus became of great importance for the stability of Europe, which is why the EU formulated the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership. Bearing in mind that Russia views this area as a sphere of its own influence, its policy has become of great importance as well as its reactions to the Union’s initiatives in this region. This geopolitical context of the Eastern Partnership became apparent with the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis. In addition to the indicated limits of an often technocratic approach to the EU, the crisis has clearly shown there is a conflict of objectives of the European Union and the Russian Federation in the common neighbourhood and raised the issue of the security and geopolitical implications of this initiative. Also, the policies and interests of the European Union and the Russian Federation affect not only Ukraine but to a greater or lesser extent the development of opportunities in all other countries involved in the EU\\\'s Eastern Partnership – Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.