NGOs seek EC help, say Serbia turns back to EU during epidemic

The appeal sent ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Zagreb on May 6 says Serbia has been unprepared for the pandemic and then "because of the destroyed health care service opted for the most rigorous measures on the Continent."

"Democracy, the rule of law and the universal human values are in a latent danger in Serbia. The authoritarian state, nationalistic policy and decision-making process concentrated in one man's hands showed their shortcomings once again,' the appeal said.

It adds that "regardless of some necessary measures, the danger of the suspension of democracy and human rights during the epidemic is cemented for longtime. That can jeopardize the survival of young democratic institutions in Serbia."

The signatories add that due to "the lack of internal democratic potential," they asked for "an EU and all its member states' offensive engagement in supporting the demands of the pro-European and democratic forces for the return of the parliamentarian life in Serbia and for the Parliament to reinstate its control over the executive power and the president's work."

They also asked the EU to respect media freedom in Serbia and "to offer adequate support to all institutions which inform people about the values and significance that the EU has in developing democracy."