Croatia asked the European Commission (EC) to include in its next progress report on Serbia hate speech against Croats and Croatia by Serbian government representatives, as well as the spreading of interethnic intolerance and violation of human and minority rights.

This was a request made by Croatian MEP Jasna Vojnic during a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“As an EU member, Croatia strongly supports the European accession of the Western Balkans countries, but this path must be based on merit. This is why we ask that the hate speech toward Croatia and the Croatian people, the spreading of intolerance and the violation of minority rights should be assessed and should be monitored constantly,” Vojnic told the meeting.

“We also ask for zero tolerance and we invite all institutions to react,” she said.

The Croatian MEP also asked the European Union (EU) and its transatlantic partners to pay more attention to the current events in Serbia.

“We are witnessing growing social unrest, protests, and the discontent of the citizens who demand accountability for the state of democracy, freedom of the media, and rule of law. Instead of dialogue, the Serbian regime uses an old strategy of shifting responsibility to external factors, and often unfairly also accuses Croatia. This dangerous narrative promoted by pro-regime media not only destabilizes Serbia but also spreads tensions in the region,” Vojnic told a debate on security and transatlantic relations at a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.