The prEUgovor coalition has presented its most comprehensive Alarm report to date, assessing Serbia’s progress in implementing policies under Cluster 1, with a particular focus on political criteria and Chapters 23 and 24. Covering the period from November 2024 to April 2025, the discussion featured Miša Bojović, Predrag Petrović, and Rade Đurić, moderated by Jelena Pejić Nikić.
The Alarm report points to Serbia’s ongoing regression in the rule of law, media freedom, and anti-corruption efforts. Discussion centered on the deterioration of political rights and freedoms, misuse of institutions and public resources, and the increasing repression of citizens, students, and journalists. Speakers warned that without genuine political will and sustained international pressure, Serbia’s EU integration process will remain stalled.
“The collapse of the canopy in Belgrade is a tragic reminder that corruption can have deadly consequences,” said Jelena Pejić Nikić of the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy and editor of the Alarm report, opening the event. She emphasized that instead of providing answers to citizens who took to the streets, authorities responded with repression. She also warned of growing crackdowns on students and activists, and the expanding role of security forces beyond their legal mandates.
Election Campaigns in Kosjerić and Zaječar Marred by Abuse
For the past seven months, students have been protesting and demanding parliamentary elections. While it's unclear whether these demands will be met, local elections in Kosjerić and Zaječar are imminent. These elections—like many before—are expected to take place under a cloud of abuse. Miša Bojović from Transparency Serbia highlighted serious misuse of public resources during campaign periods, as well as institutional inertia in addressing electoral irregularities.
“There were more visits from government officials to Kosjerić in the past month than in the previous four years combined,” she noted as an example.
Bojović also addressed recent announcements by the Serbian president of a “fierce fight against corruption,” calling them problematic for two reasons: First, anti-corruption efforts should be the ongoing responsibility of the prosecution and relevant institutions—not prompted by political declarations. Second, the president has no authority to launch such campaigns, underlining deeper violations of the separation of powers.
Violence, Repression and Lawlessness on the Rise
Predrag Petrović, Research Director at the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, warned of escalating use of repressive tactics. “What we are witnessing now is a metastasis of violence, repression, and lawlessness,” he stated. Petrović cited cases of abuse of pretrial detention, intimidation, and the use of informal or private security actors—including criminal groups.
He specifically condemned the use of sonic weapons during protests, describing them as “the final stage of violence and repression—there was absolutely no justification for using force. The goal was clearly intimidation and provocation.”
Petrović also criticized the drafting process of Serbia’s new Counter-Terrorism and Radicalization Strategy for 2025-2027, describing it as opaque and disconnected from reality. “We’re living in parallel worlds—these documents do not reflect what’s actually happening,” he said. “We’re seeing an explosion of extremism and violence, and even the president admitted that his own party harbors extremist, pro-Russian elements—and yet there is no institutional response.”
Selective Enforcement and Lack of Accountability
Rade Đurić of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) described the current climate for journalists as the most dangerous yet. “Since the beginning of the year, we’ve recorded around 140 incidents targeting journalists, including 80 cases of threats of physical violence,” he reported.
He also flagged that Serbia’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) has been non-functional for over six months, while the government continues to manipulate the appointment of its council members.
“We’re living in a society where officials act with such impunity and blatant disregard for legal norms because they know there are no consequences,” Đurić warned. “The goal is simple—preserve the grip on power at any cost.”
He emphasized the need for international actors, especially the European Commission, to apply more pressure. “We still don’t understand why this blatant disregard for the Reform Agenda is being tolerated.”
Đurić concluded that even the commitments outlined in Serbia’s media strategy are either not being implemented or applied selectively, further weakening an already fragile media landscape.
The conference was organised as part of the project financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Italian Republic. The content of this publication represents the views of its authors and in no way represents the position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
