N1: MEPs to debate Picula report next week

Picula’s report will be presented as a resolution at a European Parliament session in Strasbourg. The debate is scheduled for May 6 and a vote on a final version of the resolution a day later.

Picula’s report on Serbia in 2023-24 has been adopted by the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) with 55 votes for, 13 against and 8 abstentions.

The report criticizes Serbia for a lack of progress in the accession talks but welcomes steps taken in the economy. It also lists serious shortcoming in rule of law, the judiciary and alignment with European Union foreign policy as well as the systemic problems that the student protests have drawn attention to. The report says agreement reached in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue need to be implemented, including the forming of a Community of Serb Municipalities and the prosecution of the people responsible for the Banjska armed incident in 2023. The European Parliament expects quick and decisive steps towards reforms.

AFET also adopted 33 amendments, most of them criticizing Serbia for cooperating closely with Moscow and failing to impose sanctions on Russia.

The group of Serbian students running a relay marathon to Brussels will reach Strasbourg on May 7 and will visit the European Parliament and other institutions to meet with MEPs and officials.