EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos addressed concerns about Serbia’s political situation in both an open letter and a speech at the European Parliament plenary debate. In the letter, she responded to Serbian academia, political representatives, and CSOs, stressing the need to respect freedom of assembly. She condemned violence against demonstrators, urged a full investigation into the November Novi Sad tragedy, and reaffirmed that Serbia’s EU path depends on reforms strengthening the rule of law, judicial independence, media freedom, and institutional accountability. She also emphasized that EU accession requires a whole-of-society effort and inclusive dialogue. In her speech at the European Parliament plenary debate, Kos expanded on concerns over the detention of peaceful activists and the illegal access and publication of personal data. She condemned disinformation and hostile rhetoric against the EU, stressing Serbia’s need to align with EU foreign policy. She also highlighted the Commission’s ongoing monitoring and engagement through the Progress Report for Enlargement countries to ensure reforms and an enabling environment for civil society.
Source: European Commission