Serbian Government notifies Serbian embassies in EU: Student demands met, spread the word

“Fighting corruption, upholding the rule of law, and strengthening institutions are core principles to which we remain fully committed - this is why we have prioritized addressing them and appreciate that the students have brought these critical issues to the forefront. For this very reason, the Government of Serbia has fulfilled all their demands,” reads the document.

It adds that, for the past three months, student and citizen gatherings have taken place peacefully, without the use of state force in response, even though they were not officially registered as required by law.

According to the document, the government has made every effort to ensure that, despite being unannounced, these gatherings were properly secured, and the safety of all participants was guaranteed. It adds that the government has also instructed the police to provide security at each gathering.

“The government and state authorities have condemned every incident that has jeopardized the safety of students and citizens during the gatherings. In addition to condemnation, those responsible were apprehended, and legal proceedings are now underway for the most serious offences,” reads the text.

It says that, along with holding those responsible for the attacks criminally accountable, political responsibility has also been demonstrated.

“The Prime Minister took personal political responsibility and resigned following an incident involving members of his party. As a result, not only were the perpetrators swiftly identified and brought to justice, but as a result of the shameful act of violence against students, both the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Novi Sad resigned,” reads the document.

It further notes that the government acknowledges the challenges and is fully committed to addressing them, especially within the context of accelerating and strengthening Serbia’s European integration process.

“That is why Serbia aims to fast-track its EU accession path, proposing to fulfill all obligations by the end of 2026. These are the very values upheld by Europe—the rule of law, the fight against corruption, and media freedom. An expedited European path is crucial for Serbia to effectively tackle these issues and implement meaningful reforms,” reads the text.

It adds that “while we are witnessing the politicization of certain NGO representatives and their involvement in the country’s internal political affairs, Serbia has no intention of expelling or banning any NGO organizations.”

“On the contrary, Serbia welcomes and expects their active participation in the reforms the country is committed to pursuing. A strong and engaged civil society is essential for a clear, unequivocal European path and the successful implementation of reforms,” it says.

According to the document, the four key principles “that the President, this government, and all state institutions firmly uphold are dialogue, peaceful resolution of issues, accelerated European integration and condemnation of all forms of violence.”

It is stressed that the demands of students and citizens have been recognized and addressed.

Listed in the document are the student demands along with explanations of how they have been met.

The document says that a criminal investigation was launched on November 2, 2024, the day after the collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy. It notes that dozens of people were interviewed, including 20 individuals interviewed within 24 hours of the incident. It adds that on December 30, 2024, the Public Prosecutor indicted 13 individuals, including the former Minister of Construction, Transport, and Infrastructure, Goran Vesic (who is the only one who has been released from custody).

A corruption investigation was launched on February 3, 2025, in response to criticism that the initial investigation was insufficient, and geological engineer Zoran Djajic provided a testimony.

“By order of the Novi Sad High Prosecutor's Office, an expert examination of the rail station building was conducted by the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad Department of Civil Engineering and Geodesy. It concluded that the canopy was 23.11 tons heavier than originally designed, which likely contributed to the collapse,” reads the text, adding that investigating and prosecuting complex cases like this requires time to ensure accuracy and fairness.

Regarding the second student demand - the release of all relevant documentation related to the renovation of the Novi Sad train station - the document says that the government has published at least 559 links containing 13,042 documents, with an additional 925 documents set for release.

“Some documents are not yet in the state’s possession but are being collected. Review before release for public consumption also takes time and resources,” it says.

In reference to the third demand - cessation of legal actions against protesters and release of any detained – the document reads that on January 29, 2025, Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciici pardoned six students, four school principals, a dean, a university professor, and an assistant who had been arrested during student protests.

“The President has instructed law enforcement to secure protest areas and prevent any further incidents of violence against demonstrators. The police have consistently provided thorough security for protesters, representing a significant use of state resources,” it says.

The document notes that the government will increase funding for state universities by 20 percent, which will be reflected in the 2025 budget and amounts to an additional 12.01 billion dinars (1 euro – 117 dinars) on top of the planned 60.5 billion. This is the students’ fourth demand, it says.

During the protests, there were a number of violent incidents, including a female student being hit by a car while participating in the daily traffic blockade in downtown Belgrade, and an attack on her colleague in New Belgrade. At the time of these incidents, the police were not providing security to the protesters.

Additionally, the students believe that the government has not fulfilled their demands and continue to escalate the protests.