FIA punctures Serbian hopes.

The FIA's decision not to allow Serbian outfit Stefan GP to race in this year's Formula 1 championship would not just be heartbreaking for Serbian racing fans, but also for the country's EU-enthusiasts as well.

Despite the presence of many skilled Brazilians, the occasional Japanese driver and manufacturer and a lone Australian, Formula 1 is a European dominated sport. All of Formula 1's teams are based in Europe, with only one being owned outside the continent (Force India) and the majority of the races are staged in Europe. Therefore it is no stretch to claim that F1 is a thoroughly European institution. In this regard F1 acts as an arm of EU soft power. It is an important aspect of Europe's influence and its appeal, amongst both the continent's sports fans and its rich and powerful, makes it a relevant component to the EU's eastward expansion.

Formula 1 is a sport of status. A large part of its appeal is due to the glitz and glamour of the sport, those involved give the impression of living the (very) good life. In a similar way, to many former Yugoslav Republics, the EU symbolises a similar representation of the good life. For many young people from the Balkans region, there would be a significant thirst for EU citizenship, for not just the status that comes along with it, but the material benefits as well. Of course, admission to the EU comes with stipulations that not only included financial responsibility, but the embracing of liberal-democratic ideas and the processes of good governance (anti-corruption, human rights etc). Like F1 the EU expects a positive contribution.

This week, the FIA has made the decision that Serbian-owned Stefan GP would not be able to make that positive contribution to the Formula 1 competition for the 2010 season. This is a decision that would have disappointed many within the country. One cannot dismiss the psychological impact sport has on a national consciousness and both the Serbian public and its political elites must be sick of having war crimes tribunals as their only contribution to international news. A Serbian organisation being embraced by such an elite establishment would have provided some positive national pride amongst the Serbian people and thus had a favourable influence on the reform process necessary for Serbia's EU ascendancy. There would have been a sense that this was a step, no matter how small, towards inclusion in Europe's future, a sense that there was some progress being made in Serbia's reconciliation with the continent. Europe does not need a Serbian nation turning back in on itself. Stefan GP's inclusion would have had contributed, in an incremental way, to removing both Serbia, and the Balkans region in general, from its current status as Europe's backwater. With recent history in the region still fresh and wounds still raw, a positive sense of national prestige within an inclusive Europe could have been a significant event in the country's transformation into a good EU partner. This carrot for good governance is the raison d'être of the EU, and whilst the FIA is under no obligation to assist the EU in this matter, it would have been helpful for it to have considered the wider implications of its decision. Let us hope that the spirit of Stefan GP is not crushed by this decision and commits itself to racing in the 2011 season. F1, the EU and especially the Serbian people, can only benefit from their participation.