The European Policy Centre (EPC) held a Policy Dialogue in order to try to make sense of the victory of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić in the presidential elections that took place in Serbia in April. This EPC Elections Monitor assessed the implications of the outcome of the vote for internal political dynamics in Serbia but also for the country’s external relations, especially with the European Union and the EU member states.

Miloš Todorović, Deputy Head of Mission, Republic of Serbia to the European Union, Snežana Ðjapić, Project Manager, Bureau for Social Research, Serbia, and Srđjan Cvijić, Senior Policy Analyst, Open Society European Policy Institute, explored what the electoral campaign that unfolded tells us about Serbian citizens’ main concerns and about democratic pluralism in this EU-hopeful country. They answered questions raised by Corina Stratulat, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre, such as: What are the key domestic policy priorities of Vučić, and what does his triumph mean for Serbia’s ambition to join the European Union? How is the outcome likely to affect Serbia’s bilateral relations with other countries as well regional cooperation in the Balkans? And how should the EU and the member states respond to political developments in Serbia and ensure the country stays on the European democratic course? A Q&A with the audience followed the presentations and exchanges between panelists.