EU Council of Ministers: Serbia should accelerate reforms and consistently implement laws on media and voter register

Serbia should significantly accelerate reforms in the field of rule of law and consistently implement the adopted laws on media and the single electoral register, according to the draft conclusions of the EU Council of Ministers on Serbia and the enlargement policy, as reported by Radio Television of Serbia.

The draft recalls the European Commission’s assessment that Serbia is technically ready to open negotiating Cluster 3 on competitiveness and inclusive growth, but stresses that the EU Council will “return to this topic” later, without specifying when the cluster will be opened.

“Member States will return to this topic based on additional progress made by Serbia, primarily in the areas of rule of law and the normalization of relations with Priština, in line with the Negotiating Framework and the 2025 Progress Report,” states the text that is expected to be adopted by European Affairs Ministers mid-month, and then by EU leaders at the summit on December 18 and 19 in Brussels.

In the draft, which could be supplemented before adoption, the EU calls for the easing of tensions and “deep polarization” in Serbian society, regrets the backsliding in the area of freedom of expression and media, and calls for concrete and tangible reforms in the field of rule of law.

The text welcomes the fact that European integration remains a strategic interest of Serbia, but expects Belgrade to prove this “in words and deeds” and “demonstrate strong political will and consistency in implementing reforms and communicate objectively and unequivocally about the EU.”

In their conclusions, the European Ministers state that “mass protests” took place in Serbia following the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad train station.

While assessing that the freedom of assembly is generally respected, the EU Council emphasizes that it should be strengthened and the safety of journalists should be ensured. It states that “reports of violence and excessive use of force during protests require a thorough and impartial investigation.”

The Union calls on Serbia to de-escalate tensions and “overcome deep polarization in society” by establishing conditions for “inclusive dialogue with all interested parties, including civil society.”

The draft conclusions express “regret over the backsliding in the field of freedom of expression” and emphasize the importance of protecting all fundamental rights, including media freedom and minority rights.

The Union welcomes the adoption of media laws, but also stresses the importance of applying the laws “in letter and spirit.”

Serbia is called upon to promptly complete the appointment of REM Council members, and the authorities are expected to actively engage in the fight against all forms of disinformation and external manipulation, as well as to ensure a truly stimulating environment for civil society, media, and academic freedoms.

The EU Council of Ministers assesses that there has been no progress in the area of the judiciary, while “limited” progress has been achieved in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

The Council welcomes the adoption of amendments to the law on the Single Electoral Register and emphasizes the importance of its “proper application, primarily through the revision of the electoral register.” Serbia is “strongly encouraged” to adopt all remaining recommendations of the ODIHR and the Council of Europe on the electoral process.

In the text of the conclusions on the Belgrade-Priština dialogue, the EU Council emphasizes that progress in EU integrations of both sides will depend on the full implementation of all obligations from the Agreement on the Path to Normalization and the implementation annex from Ohrid, as well as all previous agreements, “without delay and preconditions.”

“We expect Serbia to implement the achieved agreements by starting to recognize documents and symbols in line with the 2023 agreement, as well as to refrain from opposing Kosovo’s membership in any international organization, in accordance with Article 4 of the agreement.”

The status of education, healthcare, and other structures supported by Serbia should be resolved in a coordinated and transparent manner, in line with the dialogue.

The conclusions emphasize the expectation that Serbs will reintegrate into Priština institutions at all levels, including the judiciary and police.

The Council of Ministers states “deep concern that Serbia has not fulfilled expectations regarding accountability for the violent attack on the Kosovo police” in Banjska in September 2023.

In the draft, the Council also expresses concern over the granting of Serbian passports to Russian citizens under an accelerated procedure, assessing that this represents a potential security threat to the EU.

The Council positively assesses Serbia’s recent increase in alignment with the EU’s common foreign policy, but stresses the “strong expectation” that Serbia move faster towards full alignment, especially with sanctions against Russia and Belarus, as a matter of highest priority.

Serbia is called upon to “refrain from actions and statements that are contrary to EU positions on foreign policy and strategic issues.”

The assistance provided by Serbia to Ukraine is welcomed, along with a call for Belgrade to cooperate with the EU in preventing the circumvention of EU restrictive measures.

The “good level of preparedness of Serbia” in economic criteria and the development of a functional market economy is also welcomed. Belgrade is called upon to continue developing capacity to cope with competition in the EU and to implement structural reforms./FoNet/