S&D in EP warns of Vucic appeasement, calls for freeze in accession talks

Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is an associate member of the EPP.

“The S&Ds, who requested today’s plenary debate on Serbia, condemn the unacceptable police violence, media crackdown, and slander against the Greens and Renew. At the same time, the Group urges the European Commission, EU member states, and particularly the EPP, to stop appeasing Vučić and to stand with those demanding justice and democracy. In this context, it is time to apply the same approach to Serbia as to Georgia, and to freeze accession negotiations,” the press release said.

It quoted S&D vice-president for EU enlargement Kathleen Van Brempt saying that Vucic is organizing a crackdown. “Parading with Putin in Moscow. Unleashing waves of violence against the people of Serbia who are demanding justice and democracy. Slandering European Parliamentarians. Vučić is organising a violent crackdown on human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Serbia. Crossing one red line after another and resorting to desperate acts of slander,” she said and urged the European Commission to stop the appeasement of the Vučić regime, freeze accession negotiations until Serbia reverses its authoritarian course, and partially suspend visa-free travel for Serbian diplomats and officials in response to violence against peaceful protesters. “Our support belongs to the people fighting for European values. Not to the autocrats who trample them,” she said adding that Europe cannot afford to ignore growing destabilisation in an accession country.

According to the press release, the European Parliament’s rapporteur for Serbia Tonino Picula MEP warned that the situation in Serbia is rapidly deteriorating. “Ongoing violence against protesters is eroding the remnants of democracy, while repression of journalists risks creating a complete information blackout. We call for an independent investigation into unacceptable police violence and attacks on journalists, an end to political interference in media work, and direct EU support to safeguard journalists’ safety and media freedom,” he said.