On the polarisation and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy

B100462/2025

European Parliament resolution on the polarisation and increased repression in Serbia, one year after the Novi Sad tragedy

(2025/2917(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Serbia,

– having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 2 thereof on the Union’s founding values and Article 49 thereof on the accession of European states to the Union,

– having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Serbia, of the other part, which entered into force on 1 September 2013,

– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

– having regard to the European Convention on Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights,

– having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

– having regard to the Commission’s reports on Serbia and to the enlargement strategy for the Western Balkans,

– having regard to the Council of Europe’s standards on freedom of assembly and on preventing corruption in public administration,

– having regard to Article 14 of the Serbian Constitution on the protection of national minorities,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas on 1 November 2024, the collapse of the canopy at Novi Sad’s main railway station caused the death of 16 people and severely injured others, prompting national mourning and widespread public outrage;

B. whereas since 2014, President Aleksandar Vučić and his Serbian Progressive Party have held executive power in Serbia, and this period has been marked by a significant concentration of authority, substantial influence over media outlets, and a weakening of institutional checks and balances, leading to concerns about democratic backsliding and the erosion of democratic norms;

C. whereas the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad filed an initial indictment at the end of December 2024 in connection with the Novi Sad railway station tragedy; whereas in April 2025, the competent court returned the indictment to the Prosecutor’s Office for additional clarification, leading to the release or house arrest of the individuals accused; whereas the Prosecutor’s Office subsequently complied with the court’s request and completed the supplementary investigation;

D. whereas the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime in Belgrade is conducting a separate and independent investigation into the Novi Sad railway station tragedy, focusing on 13 individuals, including former ministers Goran Vesić and Tomislav Momirović, for alleged abuses related to the reconstruction project;

E. whereas in March 2025, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation into the potential misuse of EU funds allocated to the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station;

F. whereas concerns persist about possible corruption, deficient oversight and irregularities in the procurement and certification processes of public infrastructure projects in Serbia;

G. whereas large demonstrations, vigils and civil society protests have taken place across Serbia calling for justice, transparency and institutional accountability as well as investment in education;

H. whereas credible reports by domestic and international observers point to cases of intimidation, arbitrary detention and excessive use of force by police during peaceful assemblies;

I. whereas the Novi Sad tragedy and its aftermath have intensified political polarisation and raised questions about the rule of law and freedom of expression in Serbia;

J. whereas access to justice, effective remedies and reparation constitute a fundamental right under international human rights law;

K. whereas in June 2025, the Commission announced the inclusion, under Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, of the Rio Tinto lithium and boron mining project in Jadar on the list of strategic projects located in third countries;

L. whereas President Vučić has repeatedly stated that Serbia remains committed to joining the EU and to implementing the necessary reforms, yet the pace of progress in key areas such as the rule of law, media freedom, judicial independence and the fight against corruption remains insufficient;

M. whereas according to the Copenhagen criteria, candidate countries must adhere to the values of the Union to be able to join it;

N. whereas President Vučić has publicly alleged that foreign actors, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Endowment for Democracy and the European Endowment for Democracy, have funded projects or non-governmental organisations with the aim of destabilising Serbia and facilitating political change through protests; whereas the Serbian authorities have initiated legal and prosecutorial steps, including requests for documentation and international legal assistance, in response to those allegations;

O. whereas these allegations of foreign interference have not been independently substantiated by verifiable evidence or confirmed by any judicial findings, and representatives of the EU and the United States have rejected claims that their institutions or funding mechanisms have sought to destabilise Serbia;

1. Expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims and solidarity with all those injured in or affected by the Novi Sad tragedy;

2. Welcomes the criminal investigations initiated by Serbian judicial authorities, but stresses that they must be concluded swiftly, transparently and without political interference;

3. Calls for full accountability for all individuals and entities responsible, including those involved in procurement, supervision and political oversight; calls for the publication of all non-classified documentation related to the Novi Sad station reconstruction project;

4. Urges the Serbian authorities to safeguard the independence of prosecutors and courts; calls for the EU and its Member States to stand ready to provide technical expertise and support, if the Serbian authorities request it, to strengthen the integrity and credibility of the ongoing investigations;

5. Welcomes the student demonstrations of recent months, which began as a spontaneous reaction to the Novi Sad tragedy but have since evolved into a broader civic movement calling for the protection of civil liberties, the separation of powers, stronger action against corruption, enhanced environmental safeguards, and greater institutional and financial transparency;

6. Takes note of the resignation of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević, which was confirmed by the National Assembly on 19 March 2025, and of the subsequent election of the new government led by Đuro Macut, appointed on 16 April 2025;

7. Expresses concern over the intensifying political polarisation in Serbia; calls on all political actors, civil society representatives and relevant stakeholders in Serbia to engage in constructive dialogue, free from external pressure or interference, with the aims of reducing political and social polarisation, building trust among institutions and finding a sustainable path forward for the country; emphasises that Serbia’s sovereignty and political trajectory should reflect the aspirations of its citizens;

8. Condemns the use of excessive force and arbitrary detention against peaceful demonstrators, journalists and civil society representatives; calls for impartial inquiries into all such incidents and for perpetrators to be held accountable;

9. Emphasises that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and to peaceful protest are fundamental freedoms and must be respected in all circumstances; reiterates that these rights are guaranteed by the Serbian Constitution and by Serbia’s international obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights;

10. Expresses concern over reports of political pressure on universities and research institutions, following a recent government decree reducing time allocated to academic work and affecting researchers’ remuneration; deplores the public smear campaigns against professors and other academic staff in media outlets aligned with the authorities; notes with concern the use of temporary contracts and dismissals as a means of exerting political control and retaliating against those engaged in protests or expressing criticism;

11. Calls on the Government of Serbia to take effective measures to prevent similar disasters in the future, including the introduction of mandatory and independent structural safety certification for all major public works, the establishment of transparent e-procurement and conflict-of-interest vetting procedures, the regular publication of infrastructure safety audits, and the strengthening of whistle-blower protection mechanisms;

12. Encourages the authorities to provide comprehensive support to victims and their families, including medical, psychological and financial assistance;

13. Encourages the development of common instruments to combat disinformation and safeguard freedom of expression across Europe; urges the Serbian Government to promote measures ensuring freedom of information for minorities, particularly through access to public media outlets;

14. Requests the Commission to make available targeted assistance to improve transparency, anti-corruption mechanisms and oversight of public infrastructure projects in Serbia;

15. Expresses concern about the social and environmental risks associated with the mining project in Jadar led by Rio Tinto; recalls the widespread public opposition to the project; urges the Serbian Government and the Commission to reconsider the plans for a lithium and boron mine in Jadar;

16. Reaffirms that Serbia’s future in the EU is conditional on measurable progress in upholding democratic institutions, judicial independence and fundamental rights, achieving upward social and economic convergence and fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria;

17. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and to the Government and National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.