Serbia under Council of Europe scrutiny over erosion of democracy, police violence – EUalive

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has praised Serbia for progress in judicial reform and anti-corruption efforts over the past decade, while simultaneously warning that the country faces serious challenges regarding democracy, the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.

In a resolution adopted during its summer session in Strasbourg, the Assembly concluded that Serbia has made notable advances since joining the Council of Europe in 2003, particularly through constitutional and legislative reforms aimed at strengthening the independence of the judiciary and prosecution service.

However, PACE stressed that the political and institutional landscape has changed significantly since its last comprehensive assessment of Serbia in 2012, prompting renewed scrutiny of Belgrade’s compliance with its obligations as a Council of Europe member.

“The situation in Serbia has considerably changed,” the Assembly said, noting that despite progress in some areas, there are now “serious concerns” regarding adherence to democratic standards, the rule of law and public freedoms.

The resolution, based on a report prepared by Swedish rapporteur Victoria Tiblom and Turkish rapporteur Yunus Emre, highlights a political environment marked by deep polarisation between the government and ruling majority on one side and the opposition, student movement and civil society organisations on the other.

A central focus of the Assembly’s concerns is the political fallout from the collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy in November 2024, which killed 16 people and triggered months of mass demonstrations across the country.

PACE noted that the protests, which continued throughout 2025, brought together a broad spectrum of Serbian society and gave rise to a student movement demanding accountability, transparency, justice and new elections. While the intensity of the demonstrations has diminished, the Assembly observed that they continue to influence political life and public debate.

The Council of Europe body expressed concern over reports of excessive use of force by law enforcement authorities during the protests, as well as allegations of arbitrary arrests and ill-treatment in custody. It also noted reports that police officers in some cases failed to protect demonstrators from attacks by violent individuals.

PACE called on Serbian authorities to avoid the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force against protesters, investigate all allegations of violence and abuse, and drop unfounded criminal charges against individuals detained solely for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.

The Assembly also urged the authorities to clarify the circumstances surrounding the Novi Sad tragedy and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

Particular attention was paid to allegations that a sonic weapon (or sound cannon) was used against demonstrators during a mass protest in Belgrade on 15 March 2025. PACE described the allegations as credible and called for an independent investigation into the incident, as well as legal and medical support for those affected.

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Beyond the protests, the Assembly expressed concern over the broader state of democratic institutions in Serbia.

PACE criticised the repeated use of early elections, noting that all but two parliamentary elections since 2000 have been called ahead of schedule. While such elections are constitutionally permissible, the Assembly argued that their frequent use can undermine democratic stability and the functioning of state institutions.

The next presidential election is scheduled for spring 2027, while parliamentary elections are due later that year. However, President Aleksandar Vučić has repeatedly raised the possibility of holding an early parliamentary vote in 2026.

The Assembly also pointed to irregularities reported during local elections held in ten Serbian municipalities in March 2026. Allegations included vote buying, parallel voter lists and the photographing of ballots. International observers additionally reported a deterioration in the campaign environment compared with previous elections.

Despite these concerns, PACE acknowledged progress in judicial reform, one of the key areas of Serbia’s commitments to the Council of Europe.

The Assembly welcomed constitutional amendments adopted in 2022 and subsequent laws governing courts, judges, prosecutors and judicial councils, which were positively assessed by the Venice Commission and were designed to reduce political influence over judicial appointments.

At the same time, parliamentarians voiced concern over a package of judicial amendments known as the “Mrdić laws”, adopted in January 2026. According to PACE, several provisions risk undermining the functioning and independence of the judiciary and could affect ongoing corruption investigations, including those related to the Novi Sad case.

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The Assembly welcomed subsequent amendments proposed by the Serbian justice minister that reversed most of the disputed provisions and urged authorities to fully align the legislation with Venice Commission recommendations.

PACE also called on Serbia to demonstrate a stronger commitment to prosecuting war crimes, including by appointing a Chief Public Prosecutor for War Crimes, a position that has remained vacant since 2024.

The resolution further highlighted concerns regarding freedom of expression and freedom of association.

The Assembly cited reports of intimidation, smear campaigns, threats and attacks targeting journalists, civil society activists and human rights defenders. It noted that Serbia recorded one of the highest numbers of alerts on the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Safety of Journalists in 2025 and remains among the European countries most affected by strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

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PACE also raised concerns about alleged surveillance of journalists and activists, as well as the continued paralysis of Serbia’s media regulator, REM, whose leadership has not been fully renewed since late 2024.

Concluding its assessment, the Assembly said it would continue monitoring Serbia’s fulfilment of its commitments and examine remaining concerns in a forthcoming report, signalling that democratic governance, media freedom and judicial independence are likely to remain under close international scrutiny.

Caption: The Council of Europe in Strasbourg, photo from 2024 when the 75th anniversary of the oldest European institution was celebrated. The organisation was officially founded on 5 May 1949 with the signing of the Treaty of London (its Statute) by 10 founding member states. The Council of Europe (CoE) has 46 member states.  This number has remained unchanged since Russia was expelled in March 2022 (it was the first country ever expelled from the organisation). Montenegro was the last country to join, in 2007. [Wikimedia Commons]

Updated: June 24, 2026 – 05:36