German MP Ahmetović calls for immediate resignation of Serbian Minister Paunović

Bundestag member from Germany’s Social Democratic Party, Adis Ahmetović, has reacted sharply to statements made by Serbian Minister Snežana Paunović, emphasizing that they contradict the fundamental principles of the European Union.

In his statement, Ahmetović underlined that although Western Balkan countries, including Serbia, have a clear European perspective, nationalist rhetoric and hate speech are completely unacceptable by the bloc’s standards.

“Yes, Western Balkan countries belong to the EU. That includes Serbia. But a spirit of nationalism and hatred, coming from some governments, has no place in our European community of values,” Ahmetović wrote in his reaction.

He warned that precisely this mentality is seriously undermining the Union’s enlargement ambitions and damaging efforts to further strengthen the European bloc.

The German MP added that “this mentality torpedoes the process of the EU growing and becoming even stronger. The right signal from Belgrade would be the immediate dismissal of Minister Paunović.”

This reaction came as a result of statements by Serbia’s Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government, Snežana Paunović, who had mentioned the term “ethnic cleansing” in a context related to Kosovo, sparking widespread criticism of her views.