Picula: Suspension of EU funds for Serbia is the only message that Vucic's regime fears

The European Parliament's rapporteur for Serbia, Tonino Picula, has stated that the possible suspension of funds from the European Union is the most effective means of exerting pressure on the authorities in Belgrade.

In a reaction on the social network X, Picula stressed that the deterioration of the democratic situation in Serbia requires a change in the EU's approach.

"The strengthening of repression against citizens, the suppression of media freedom, the collapse of the judiciary and the integrity of elections are reasons for the EU to change not only the narrative towards official Belgrade, but also the policy of support for the regime," he wrote.

According to him, the suspension of conditional EU funds remains the "only message" that Aleksandar Vučić's regime takes seriously.

Picula's statements have prompted a reaction from the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Ana Brnabić.

In a post on X, Brnabić accused Picula of seeking to cut off funds that, according to her, go to vital projects for citizens.

"His Easter message is that he wants less money for Serbia – for schools, hospitals, the environment, roads and railways – just because citizens support Aleksandar Vučić and want to decide for themselves who will lead the country," she said.

The European portal Politiko published information that Serbia faces the possibility of losing up to 1.5 billion euros in EU funds and that the European Commission is considering cutting them off due to democratic regression and the country's close ties with Russia.

European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, stated that the European Commission is still assessing whether Serbia meets the conditions for "payments under EU financial instruments".

"We are increasingly concerned about what is happening in Serbia, from laws undermining the independence of the judiciary to the repression of protesters and repeated interference in independent media," she told the Brussels-based Politiko portal.

The Geopost

Jačanje represije nad citizens, gušenje mediasih sloboda, urušavanje judiciary i integrita szborta su razojani da EU čljeni ne samo narativ prema ospičnom Beogradu nego prije svega politiku podilaženja Vučićevom regime.

Moguća obustava jasno konditioniranih sredstva iz…

- Tonino Picula (@TPicula) April 11, 2026