The Working Group of the National Convention on the European Union for Chapter 23 welcomes the publication of the European Commission’s Rule of Law Report for Serbia, which, at a highly sensitive political moment, realistically and substantively reflects the state of democratic institutions and identifies key deficiencies in the functioning of the judiciary, media freedom, anti-corruption efforts, and the space for civil society. The report confirms the concerns that members of the Convention raised during the meeting with Commission representatives in March 2025, particularly regarding the continued pressure on the judiciary, violations of freedom of assembly, and the disregard of civil society recommendations by institutions. The current state of these areas has further deteriorated since the data for the Report was collected.
The Commission recognizes that political pressure on the judiciary and prosecution services remains pronounced, without an adequate institutional response. It particularly highlights the lack of transparency within the High Judicial Council and the uncertainty surrounding the appointment of judicial office holders, often due to the inability of the High Prosecutorial Council to reach a quorum. The report also points to the erosion of public trust as a result of non-transparent public consultations and the lack of independence among oversight institutions. Rightfully, the Report highlights the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad railway station, which sparked mass protests and exposed systemic irresponsibility and suspicions of corruption in public infrastructure projects.
In the area of anti-corruption, the Report expresses concern over the lack of progress in prosecuting high-level corruption cases, the widespread use of public procurement exemptions, and the ineffective oversight of public officials’ assets. Serious concerns are also raised regarding the safety of journalists, access to information of public importance, and the dysfunctionality of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), despite the adoption of new media legislation. The Report confirms that civil society continues to face pressure, while consultations and public debates are conducted only formally, without meaningful impact.
The Working Group for Chapter 23 calls on the relevant domestic institutions not to ignore the findings of this Report and to immediately commit to a serious political and institutional response to the issues identified by the Commission. Furthermore, we call on the European Commission and other EU institutions to align their approach to the Government of the Republic of Serbia with the findings of their own report, as the current state of the rule of law is the direct result of the government’s failure and simulated reforms.
Working Group of the National Convention on the EU for Chapter 23