Members of the European Parliament have signaled a hardening stance toward Belgrade, voting on Wednesday, 8 July, to demand more rigorous enforcement of Serbia’s EU harmonization reforms. The legislative move coincides with a failure to reach a consensus on opening a new cluster of accession negotiations during the same week.
The push for a more stringent approach was spearheaded by Croatian MEP and rapporteur to Serbia, Tonino Picula. Speaking before the plenary in Strasbourg on Tuesday, 7 July, Picula advocated for a suspension of EU funding to the country. He cited a comprehensive report highlighting a significant deterioration in rule-of-law standards within Serbia.
According to the report, the nation has experienced a notable backsliding in civil liberties and the independence of the media. Furthermore, Picula informed the press on Wednesday that the document identifies alarming trends, specifically noting “increasing violence, intimidation and irregularities reported during the local elections.”
The parliamentary body officially adopted these warnings and the associated report by a margin of 468 votes in favor, with 116 votes against and 79 abstentions.
