“Foreign Policy Papers”, represent regular analyses which critically consider actual problems in international relations and Serbia’s international position. Forum for International Relations of the European Movement in Serbia and Friedrich Ebert Foundation wants to open discussion on important issues in foreign policy and offer new views from different perspectives.

From the very beginning, the Forum has been bringing together the most prominent foreign policy analysts and specialists as the most valuable resource of this institution, unique in Serbia both by its membership, expertise and democracy in organization. The Forum meets every Wednesday under the Chatham House Rule, and together with guest keynote speaker comprehensively discusses current issues of foreign policy and international relations. The Forum aims to contribute to building realistic public outlook regarding today’s changing world, our place, interests and opportunities in it, as well as in formulating policies on these basis.

The First Issue – Western Balkans between Geography and Geopolitics –  represents one possible view on the most current and important issues that define the contemporary, as well as recent history of the Western Balkans. Region poses as a kind of “testing ground” for geopolitical competition, which takes place in the immediate neighbourhood or in single country of the region. The actors are numerous, because in addition to the old imperial powers there are new global actors in play, which combine geopolitics and geo-economics, both contributing and hindering region’s European future. The authors tried to shed light on the processes in the region from the perspective of the relationship between geography and geopolitics, using different approaches and opting for different thematic areas. They critically reviewed the initial thesis that although difficult and seemingly unattainable, there is no alternative to regional cooperation and the same goes for the European path of the region.

The Second Issue – Serbia on the refugee route -the humanitarian response and legal adjustments – is not about the humanitarian activities of the key actors, which has been written and talked about a lot over the past 15 months. It is about the challenges and problems confronting the country status-wise and in legal terms after positioning towards the crisis. It researches the effects of incorporating and defining its policy in accordance with regional agreements and European ad hoc solutions, which are also subject of criticism in this analysis. The authors therefore put the focus on the two main issues regarding the implementation of the agreement: the achievements and challenges of its implementation with regards to sustainable return of our citizens, as well as the admission foreign nationals in the light of the current migrant and refugee crisis. Especially the issue of reform of the relevant legislation in the context of Serbia’s accession negotiations with the EU will be raised.

The Third Issue – Future of the EU and Western Balkans – view from Serbia – The third issue of the Foreign Policy Papers is dedicated to the analysis of the possible directions of transformation of the European Union after Brexit and many crises and challenges over the last decade. Authors rated internal relations within the European Union, the EU’s position on the global stage and its power, stability as well as threats to the European system of values. The authors discussed on how the observed changes and revisions are reflected in the EU’s enlargement policy and its relation to the Western Balkans in all three aspects.