Russia And China want to fill the political vacuum left by the EU in the Balkans, the most in Serbia, writes.

review of the publication, the EU neglects the Balkan countries, among them Serbia, focusing on the Ukrainian crisis. So, the head of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said about stopping the expansion of the EU until at least 2020. As a result, the Brussels danger of losing his strongest leverage on the future development of Serbia - possibilities to formulate the rules of accession negotiations to the European Union, considers EUobserver.

If the EU does not demonstrate a stronger interest in the region, Serbia can start the search for alternative ways. And these roads lead to Beijing And Moscow, says the magazine.

The Chinese government regarded the Balkans as a Central node in its long-term strategy of rapid expansion of trade between East And West. Chinese banks have made major investments in Serbia. Only in 2014, Belgrade signed 13 agreements And memorandums with Beijing regarding Finance, infrastructure, telecommunications And transport. Economic cooperation between 2 countries is reinforced by political agreements, emphasizes EUobserver.

Even more "natural" alternative for Serbia is Russia, says the magazine. The two countries are bound by historical And cultural ties. Russia supports Serbia's position on Kosovo and Serbia was the only state candidate for membership in the EU, which did not approve of the punishment against Russia. A special relationship between 2 countries were clearly demonstrated in October 2014, when the Russian President visited the 1st Serbian military parade since 1986, is reminiscent of the media.

sections: Politics