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REPORT (2025/2255(INI))

On the 2025 Commission report on Serbia

A-10-2026-0163

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Tonino Picula

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This resolution responds to the 2025 Commission report on Serbia, covering EU accession, rule of law, fundamental rights, regional relations, and socio-economic reforms. It demands Serbia align with EU foreign policy, including sanctions on Russia, and calls for progress on Kosovo normalisation, media freedom, and judicial independence. It condemns repression of protests, spyware use, and attacks on journalists, and urges the Commission to condition funding on reforms.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes a resolution that criticises Serbia's backsliding on EU reforms and calls for strict conditionality, while reaffirming support for its European perspective.

Key points

  1. Calls on Serbia to demonstrate sustained commitment to EU values and implement reforms, with no shortcuts or coupling with other countries.
  2. Deplores Serbia's ties with Russia and China, including military cooperation and acquisitions, and demands alignment with EU sanctions and closure of the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center.
  3. Regrets Serbia's abstention on the UN resolution on Ukraine and its observer status in the CSTO, and calls for full CFSP alignment.
  4. Urges the Commission to apply 'fundamentals first' and suspend funds if Serbia regresses on rule of law, elections, and media freedom.
  5. Condemns the political crisis, corruption, and flawed elections, and calls for implementation of ODIHR recommendations and investigation of irregularities.
  6. Condemns attacks on journalists, media capture, and the operation of RT Balkan and Sputnik, and urges Serbia to align with EU media standards.
  7. Calls for protection of protesters, an end to spyware surveillance, and investigation of police violence and acoustic weapon use.
  8. Demands respect for minority rights, including education in minority languages, and condemns attacks on minorities and denial of identity.
  9. Calls for full cooperation with Kosovo on the Banjska attack and normalisation, and condemns rhetoric undermining regional stability.
  10. Urges action on war crimes, including prosecution, opening archives, and adopting a law on missing persons.
  11. Calls for socio-economic reforms, including labour rights, social dialogue, and energy diversification away from Russia.
  12. Stresses the need for environmental protection, transparency in foreign investments, and alignment with EU environmental acquis.

Who is affected

  • Serbian authorities and government: must implement reforms, align with EU policies, and protect fundamental rights.
  • Journalists, students, activists, and civil society in Serbia: face repression but are supported by the resolution.
  • National minorities in Serbia, including Croats, Romanians, Albanians, and Roma: rights must be protected.
  • Kosovo and neighbouring countries: Serbia must normalise relations and stop hostile rhetoric.
  • EU institutions, especially the Commission: must enforce conditionality and suspend funds if reforms stall.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2 of 35 negotiating chapters provisionally closed.
  • Over 90% of prime news airtime on national TV taken by ruling majority; opposition less than 10%.
  • 13.6% of population experienced severe material and social deprivation in 2024; at-risk-of-poverty rate 27.2% in 2023; youth unemployment 24.5%.
  • EU accounts for 58.3% of Serbia's total trade in 2024.
  • Serbia ranked 96th out of 180 on World Press Freedom Index in 2025.
  • More than 200 cases stalled or affected due to lack of Eurojust liaison prosecutor.