Serbia is on the irreversible path of EU integration and the perspectives of its EU membership have never been more clear nor tangible, said Mihailo Crnobrnja, president of the European Movement in Serbia (EMinS), at a gathering marking the 25^th anniversary of the organisation.

‘’Our goal has never been closer. Credits go to every citizen, everyone who cherished European idea and advocated for persistence on the EU path over the years, regardless of the price he or she often had to pay for those efforts’’, he said at the cocktail reception held in Aeroklub, which gathered guests from public and cultural life, diplomatic corps, donors, members, partners, and friends of the EMinS.

As one of the oldest non-governmental, non-party and non-profit organizations, European Movement in Serbia would like to remind that the European integration efforts are not just words, laws, strategies, and action plans, but actions as well. Formal progress often does not mean essential and visible improvements for citizens of Serbia, and precisely those improvements are the final goal of our European journey.

Therefore, European Movement in Serbia remains a credible partner and well-intentioned critic that can offer its knowledge and experience in the EU integration process, in the best interest of our citizens. Judiciary, media, reform of public administration and social policy are some of the critical areas in which much more has to be done in the following period.

‘’Euroscepticism must not be forgotten. We will fight disinformation and misconceptions with facts and quality content. Euroscepticism will, for sure, have only positive effects on the pro-European line, as it did in every other system. This is already evident in developed European countries, where in spite of the rise of nationalism and extreme ideologies, the original European spirit prevailed. Because the European idea is not just based on values, it is also rationally the best choice for Serbia and its citizens’’, Crnobrnja concluded.

European Movement in Serbia was founded in 1992, as a non-governmental organisation that researches, teaches and advocates for European integrations. EMinS has more than 700 members, 14 local councils in cities across Serbia, and it is a member of the European Movement International network based in Brussels. Over the years, organisation was led by renowned experts and intellectuals such as Vojin Dimitrijević, Mirko Tepavac, Desimir Tošić, Živorad Kovačević, and Vlastimir Matejić.