Call it the Switzerland of Eastern Europe or, if that feels too ambitious, a secular Vatican on the Danube River.
Verdi is Europe’s latest self-proclaimed microstate, built on three political ideas: neutrality, mediation and humanitarianism, and just 0.5 km² of land.
It exists along the EU’s eastern border because of a long-standing dispute between Croatia and Serbia. The two countries share 137 km of border, but disagree on where exactly the line runs, leaving small pockets that neither side fully claims.
And so in 2023, British-Australian Daniel Jackson – the current president – and a group of supporters set out to fund their own republic on the west bank of the Danube.
Jackson said Euractiv that the idea was first born in 2014. But finding undeclared land in 21st century Europe is not exactly simple.
Like many potential states, Verdis leans heavily on symbols and identity construction. When I talk to Jackson, a flag hangs on the wall behind him. One could easily confuse it with the flag of Argentina – the same soft blue and white stripes – but the inspiration is closer to the flag of Volkava, a town in Croatia, not far from Verdis.
“The blue at the bottom represents the Danube River, the white in the middle represents peace, unity, modernization, and the blue at the top represents clear skies,” Jackson explains.
This emphasis on peace is completely intentional. It is also shown in her passport. of The white stork is a native bird to the region and represents stability and peace, he says. The oak tree is for strength and unity. Wavy lines for the Danube River.
(Credit: Daniel Jackson)
For many, the project has a utopian feel that may have pleased the original utopian thinker, Thomas More. But, as with many utopias, it wasn’t long before reality reared its head.
When Jackson founded the country, Croatia quickly blocked access and deployed police on the ground – a reaction that can be seen as a form of institutional post-traumatic stress disorder.
In 2015, Croatian authorities faced a similar project on their border: Liberlandanother self-proclaimed microstate funded by Czech right-libertarian politician and activist Vít Jedlička.
“We have always made it clear that we want good relations with Croatia and Serbia and to coexist peacefully with our neighbors,” says Jackson.
But Croatia sees things differently. said the foreign ministry Euractiv that Verdis – and Liberland – are simply “provocative actions without any basis in law”.
They argue that the land is not unclaimed territory, but part of an unresolved border dispute, and therefore not open to occupation. “The fact that (there is) a pending delimitation does not give space a no man’s landMore simply, you cannot go in and declare a state.
Zagreb is also wary that Verdis will become a lawless state or a hot spot for illegal activity, Jackson said.
So is Belgrade more accepting? “Serbia has never had a problem with Verdis or Liberland. They really don’t worry about the situation,” he said.
Jackson himself is “exiled” in Serbia, waiting for the blockade of Croatia to be lifted. Attempts to reach out from the Serbian side do not go any better, as the Croatian authorities “are too quick to drive you out”.
ME to the rescue?
The dispute between Verdi and Croatia is an unusual EU border row.
Croatia’s strongest argument is its obligation to protect the EU’s external border, which runs along the Danube, the foreign ministry said. country they joined The Schengen area of the EU will be borderless only in 2023.
Raphael Bossong, vice president of research at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said border protection is ultimately a national responsibility.
“It is a national competence to protect the external borders while member states are obliged to implement the regulation of the EU Schengen area,” he said. Euractiv.
In other words, they can ask for help from Brussels, but they don’t have to. “Frontex, the EU’s border agency, can only intervene at the invitation of the EU country in question… In this case, Croatia would probably not want to involve the EU because it could turn into an awkward situation.
Does the fact that this border affects Serbia complicate things? “Absolutely,” says Bossong. “The region is located along the so-called Balkan road, which has been used for human trafficking or smuggling of human beings, as well as other types of smuggling.”
Jackson says he would “appreciate” if the EU could do something. But he himself cannot use legal remedies in EU courts as he is a British and Australian citizen.
An old dream
Verdis is building himself up elsewhere as he waits for dialogue with Croatia.
The self-proclaimed country counts about 4,000 e-residents and 400 full citizens. Applicants must pass the citizenship test, prove a clean criminal record and demonstrate knowledge of one of the official languages: English, Croatian or Serbian.
Right now, Verdis is running on what Jackson calls an “interim government” and a draft constitution. The plan is to put a permanent version to the vote, then hold elections, and “very soon” open a representative office in the EU.
Verdis also emphasizes the persistence of an old idea. Five centuries after More imagined a perfect society on a remote island, the desire to create a space untouched by the compromises of the real world remains the same.
But as More himself, and many others since, learned, utopias are easier to imagine than to actually build.
(bw, ow)
