Skip to content
MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2521(RSP))

On the situation in Serbia following the elections

B-9-2024-0108

on behalf of the S&D Group · Rapporteur: Pedro Marques, Andreas Schieder, Tonino Picula, Thijs Reuten

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 26 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.

Parliament's resolution on Serbia's 17 December 2023 early parliamentary and local elections says they deviated from international standards through the incumbents' systematic abuse of institutions. It deplores the lack of institutional response and prosecutions, and urges Serbia to investigate and bring those responsible for election-related criminal offences to justice. It calls for an independent international investigation supported by the EU, and for the Commission to send an expert mission to Serbia and report its findings to Parliament. It asks Serbia to restore voter confidence, cooperate with the ODIHR, the EU and the Council of Europe, and reform election laws, including on bussing voters from abroad. It condemns the absence of media pluralism, the president's campaign exposure and the media regulator's failure, and asks the Commission to freeze Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance III funding to Serbia if no independent investigation is launched.

Key points

  1. Deplores that the 17 December 2023 parliamentary and local elections deviated from international standards and Serbia's commitments to free and fair elections.
  2. Notes with serious concern the extensive evidence of irregularities collected by international and domestic observers, which altered the outcome and undermined the legitimacy of the parliamentary elections.
  3. Deplores the lack of institutional response to allegations of electoral manipulation and abuse, which contributes to an atmosphere of impunity.
  4. Condemns the lack of prosecutions and sanctions for criminal offences during the elections, including manipulation of the voter registry, intimidation, corruption and abuse of state office.
  5. Urges the Serbian authorities to investigate, prosecute and bring to justice those responsible for criminal offences during the elections.
  6. Condemns attacks by government officials on election observers, including Members of the European Parliament, and urges Serbia to protect observers and stop disinformation campaigns against them.
  7. Stresses the need for an independent international investigation into election irregularities supported by the EU, and urges the Commission to send an expert mission to Serbia and report to Parliament.
  8. Urges Serbia to restore voter confidence, ensure transparent election procedures and accountability, and cooperate with the ODIHR, the EU and the Council of Europe.
  9. Encourages Serbia to implement the December 2022 Venice Commission and ODIHR recommendations, including audits of the voter register, media access, campaign finance transparency and measures against pressure on voters.
  10. Calls on Serbia to change election laws to prevent the organised bussing of voters from abroad, and condemns the absence of media pluralism and biased reporting in favour of the incumbents.
  11. Strongly regrets that the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media neglected its legal obligations to scrutinise the campaign and sanction breaches, and encourages independent institutions to play a proactive role.
  12. Calls on the Commission to avoid appeasement towards Serbia, freeze all Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance III funding if no independent investigation is launched, and advance accession negotiations only if Serbia aligns with EU sanctions against Russia and implements ODIHR and Venice Commission recommendations.

Who is affected

  • Serbian authorities, who are urged to investigate irregularities, reform election laws and protect observers.
  • The Commission, which is asked to send an expert mission, report to Parliament and consider freezing funding to Serbia.
  • Election observers, including Members of the European Parliament, who were attacked and intimidated by government officials.
  • Serbian media and the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, criticised for biased reporting and failure to scrutinise the campaign.
  • Serbia's EU accession process, which Parliament says should advance only if Serbia aligns with EU sanctions against Russia and implements recommendations.

Figures and deadlines

  • 17 December 2023: date of the early parliamentary elections in Serbia.
  • 1 November 2023: date the President of Serbia dissolved the parliament.
  • 65 mayors: number who resigned from the ruling party, including the Mayor of Belgrade.
  • 38 people: number arrested after protesters stormed the Belgrade City Assembly on 24 December 2023.
  • 13-day hunger strike: conducted by Marinika Tepić, later joined by other opposition members.
  • 19 December 2009: date Serbia submitted its application for EU membership.
  • 12 October 2011: date of the Commission opinion on Serbia's application for EU membership.
  • 1 March 2012 and 27-28 June 2013: dates of European Council decisions to grant candidate status and open accession negotiations.