The guiding principle of the European Movement in Serbia is to follow the footsteps of those who came before us, while opening new paths for those who will come after us. If culture and education are held captive, all paths are closed.

Dositej Obradović came from Trieste to revolutionary Serbia and introduced it enlightened Europe. Vuk Karadžić went to Vienna and travelled across Europe to introduce Europe to the Serbian people and their remarkable achievements. At the dawn of modern Serbian history stood the natural aspiration to return to and become part of the European family – a vision that generations of our fathers and grandfathers pursued with great success. It is our responsibility to complete their work by standing up for the very same values championed by the Serbian revolutionaries and their successors over the past two centuries: the values enshrined in Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the citizen of French Revolution and reflected in the legal tradition of the Serbian state, from Sretenje Constitution onwards.

Today, the European Movement in Serbia continues to advocate and fight for the very principles and European values proclaimed in the first article of Serbia’s current Constitution and deeply embedded in our legal and political tradition since the adoption of Sretenje Constitution two centuries ago: that “a judge, in delivering a judgment, shall depend on no one in Serbia except the laws of Serbia”; that “no authority in Serbia, whether greater or lesser, shall have the right to prevent a judge from acting in accordance with the law or to order a different judgment than that prescribed by law”; that “no one in Serbia may be punished except in accordance with the law and by the judgment of a competent court”; and that “every Serbian citizen has the right to choose his or her own way of life according to his or her own free will,” among other fundamental principles.

We firmly believe that advocating Serbia’s integration into the European community of nations – today most prominently represented by the European Union – is the best way to honour the legacy entrusted to us by Dositej, Karađorđe, Vuk, Miloš and many others. It is a legacy that calls upon Serbia to become a fully equal European country where individual and collective freedoms are protected and where a just society exists for all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background or origin.

The principles of freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities, as well as tolerance, non-discrimination, solidarity, equality before the law, and equal rights for all citizens and for women and men are the principles for which we stand and which we honour through our awards and recognitions.

Alongside promoting European values in Serbia, the European Movement in Serbia is equally committed to fostering regional cooperation. A strong network of partnerships and mutual support is built through cultural, educational and economic ties, open borders, and free movement of people, goods, services and capital. Only in this way can we overcome the legacy of the wars of the 1990s, just as the European Union has successfully done over the past eight decades. In this vision, there is no place for hate speech, promotion of ethnic divisions, or threats of reviving unresolved conflicts. The younger generation has rejected such alternative. For them, every human life, every town and every village matters equally, and the European Movement in Serbia supports this vision without reservation.

We live in a time marked by insecurity, uncertainty, prolonged crises and armed conflicts that threaten international peace, security and stability while deepening rivalries among the world’s leading powers. In such circumstances, regional relations have become increasingly important and are now a key determinant of foreign policy. Good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation are recognised as essential criteria by which a country’s credibility and standing are measured, both in Europe and globally. They represent the only sustainable alternative to local and global imperial ambitions.

The European Movement in Serbia advocates reaffirmation of a genuinely pro-European policy, one that requires political leaders willing to accelerate resolution of outstanding issues with neighbouring countries – above all Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro – as well as to advance the process of normalising relations between the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina through the implementation of the numerous agreements reached since 2011. This is the only way to safeguard Serbian communities in neighbouring countries, protect their minorities in Serbia, and enable minority communities to become valued participants in our societies. We believe in reconciliation and good neighbourly relations as the foundations of security, stability and lasting progress.

In opposition to growing dominance of tabloid-style public communication, we stand for a culture of constructive public dialogue, one that seeks evidence-based answers and innovative solutions for both our society and the wider region.

Europe will only give much to those who are prepared to contribute much. Serbia is capable of doing so. Its history proves it. Its youth confirms it.