Large protests are underway in Serbia, with citizens demanding a more democratic government and the rule of law.
President Aleksandar Vučić’s administration has responded to the protests with violence, and the harshness of police action has raised concern internationally. The European Union has not taken a clear stance on the situation, which has reinforced Serbians’ distrust of the Union. JEF Finland demands that the EU show its support for the protests and promote Serbia’s commitment to the Union’s core values.
In March, Serbia has seen the largest protests in the country’s history, demanding wide-ranging reform toward democracy and the rule of law. President Aleksandar Vučić’s current administration has been accused of widespread corruption, which has caused both economic and human harm. The administration has responded to the protests with violence, and the use of a sonic weapon is suspected. The EU’s silence on the situation has been interpreted among protesters as approval of Vučić’s actions. As a candidate country, Serbia’s current administration is flagrantly violating the Union’s core values. JEF Finland demands that the European Union show its support for the protesters’ demands to reform Serbia’s government and take a stand on the abuses of Serbia’s administration.
Serbia has been a candidate country for European Union membership since 2009. The country’s accession negotiations are still ongoing. The negotiations have been slowed, for example, by continued cold relations with Kosovo and the country’s foreign-policy drift toward Russia. Another significant problem is rampant corruption in the country, which enriches the president’s inner circle at the expense of citizens. A devastating example of this corruption is the accident that occurred in the city of Novi Sad in November 2024, when a train station roof collapsed, killing 15 people. The accident is suspected to have resulted from negligence in building oversight, a direct consequence of corruption in Serbia’s administration and the erosion of the rule of law. When the government hands out public funds to an old-boys’ network, citizens’ safety becomes secondary. This is yet another demonstration of why Serbia needs an independent judiciary and government reform — precisely what the protesters are demanding.
The accident set off a wave of protests that culminated in March in the largest protest in the country’s history. The streets of the capital, Belgrade, filled with more than 300,000 protesters demanding democracy and an independent judiciary for the country. Police responded to the protests with arrests and the use of violence. Suspicions about the use of a sonic weapon to disperse the protests have drawn particular attention.
The EU’s starred flag has not been seen at the protests, as citizens see the Union as supporting the current administration. The Union has not taken a unified stance on the situation, and the administration’s actions have not been directly condemned. Among citizens, this has been interpreted as tacit approval of Vučić’s conduct. Serbia is understood to have bought the approval of EU member states, for example by signing raw-material agreements and purchasing French fighter jets. The current course not only weakens the Union’s credibility but also runs counter to Serbia’s membership conditions. Supporting the democracy protests, on the other hand, would increase citizens’ trust in the Union and promote development in line with the country’s membership conditions.
For more information:
Nea Baarman
President