Vucevic: Announcements of EXPO cancellation reflect policy of blocking development

BELGRADE - Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) leader Milos Vucevic said on Thursday EXPO 2027 Belgrade represented a historic opportunity for economic momentum, infrastructure modernisation and global affirmation of Serbia, and noted that the opposition's announcements that the event would be cancelled reflected a lack of vision and a policy of blocking the country's development.

"For the SNS, EXPO 2027 is not only a political project, but a state priority that will bring together more than one hundred countries of the world and bring billions of euros in investments, new jobs and modernisation of transport and utility infrastructure," Vucevic posted on X in a reaction to a statement by Dragan Djilas - who tops the opposition European Serbia electoral list - that EXPO 2027 would be cancelled following a change of government.

Cancelling such a large-scale international event would threaten to seriously erode Serbia's credibility with international partners and investors and halt an economic momentum that is directly impacting the living standards of all citizens, Vucevic posted.

He noted that, when it comes to financial transparency, all contracts, public procurements and money flows within the project were being implemented pursuant to the law and were subject to oversight by the relevant state and independent institutions.

"Rather than obstruction and irresponsible announcements leading to economic and political instability, Serbia's key interest is successful implementation of a project that will leave a permanent legacy to generations to come. A man who used his tenure in power exclusively for his own well-being cannot comprehend that," Vucevic added.

Earlier, Djilas said EXPO 2027 would be cancelled after a change of government and that all related contracts, public procurements and money flows would be scrutinised.