EC for N1: Complaints of election irregularities need to be properly investigated

The European Commission (EC) urges for calm and dialogue, it told N1 when asked to comment on a series of events that took place in Serbia following the December 17 early elections.

“While the right of peaceful demonstration is to be upheld, violence is not the solution and unacceptable. Police action must be proportionate and respect fundamental rights within the rule of law,” said the European Commission when asked to comment for N1 on the election irregularities in Serbia, attacks against international observers, protests over election fraud, violence at the protests, police brutality, opposition leader Marinika Tepic’s hunger strike and Serbia’s cooperation with the Russian intelligence services.

The EC added that “complaints of election irregularities need to be properly investigated and addressed.”

European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi issued on December 19 a joint statement on behalf of the EU in which they concluded, “with concern,” that “the electoral process requires tangible improvement and further reform, as the proper functioning of Serbia’s democratic institutions is at the core of Serbia’s EU accession process.”

As they said at the time, the EU looks forward to the final OSCE/ODIHR report and recommendations for future elections, stressing that they “should be implemented as soon as possible and well in advance of the next elections.”