Vuk Velebit at the Globesec Belgrade Economic Talks

The president of the Pupin Initiative spoke on digital connectivity, startups, and Serbia’s EU integration in a changing geopolitical landscape

President of the Pupin Initiative, Vuk Velebit, spoke today in Belgrade at the Globsec Belgrade Economic Talks forum dedicated to infrastructure and digital connectivity, trade, and relations between Serbia and the EU.

Speaking on the panel “Building the Foundations: Infrastructure, Connectivity, and the Business Environment,” Velebit emphasized that Serbia performs strongly in digital innovation and entrepreneurship. He highlighted the country’s vibrant startup ecosystem and noted that many American technology companies recognize the talent and strong work ethic of Serbia’s workforce.

Addressing Serbia’s EU integration, Velebit said that while there is a long-standing narrative about a “window of opportunity” for EU membership, the issue of trust must be openly discussed. He underlined that Serbia wants to become part of the European Union, but questioned whether the EU is equally ready to integrate the Western Balkans’ largest country. Creating competition within the region without a clear integration strategy, he warned, could undermine optimism about EU enlargement in the current geopolitical context.