The European Union has called on Serbia to implement the remaining recommendations of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on its electoral process, and to strengthen the protection and safety of journalists, in a statement delivered at the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on 30 July 2026. The EU's remarks came in response to the report of the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Ambassador Marcel Peško, and were delivered by the EU Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna. The statement also welcomed Serbia's progress in regional cooperation and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to the Western Balkans' European perspective, while stressing that normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina remains essential for both to advance on their European paths.
The EU statement, issued at Permanent Council No. 1575, praised the OSCE Mission's work across its mandated areas despite budgetary constraints and an environment of continued political and social polarisation. The EU welcomed the Mission's contribution to Serbia's 2026–2030 Media Strategy and Action Plan, the development of Serbia's first Media Literacy Index, and its support for the Regulatory Authority on Electronic Media (REM), noting that a fully functioning REM Council is essential for media pluralism and fair electoral processes. The EU underlined that Serbia must ensure a truly enabling environment for civil society, media, and academic freedom, and strengthen the protection and safety of journalists.
On the electoral front, the EU acknowledged positive steps regarding the unified voter register but said key aspects of the electoral process still require tangible improvement and further reform. The EU noted concerns expressed by ODIHR and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and expressed trust that Serbia will implement the remaining ODIHR recommendations, with the EU ready to support the relevant authorities.
The statement also welcomed the Mission's contribution to the national Action Plan for the Realization of the Rights of National Minorities (2026–2029) and its support for increasing minority representation in the police and judiciary. The EU called on Serbia to pay particular attention to protecting persons in vulnerable situations and ensuring non-discriminatory treatment of national minorities. It also welcomed the selection of the Serbian NGO Education for the 21st Century as the winner of the 2026 Max van der Stoel Award.
The EU commended the Mission's support for judicial reform, judicial independence and accountability, as well as its monitoring of high-profile organised crime and corruption cases within the EU-funded Western Balkans regional trial monitoring project. It also appreciated efforts to strengthen Serbian authorities' capacities to fight corruption, money laundering and organised crime.
On regional relations, the EU encouraged Serbia to strengthen good neighbourly relations and contribute to stability and reconciliation, while noting that decisive efforts are still required to solve issues rooted in the legacy of the past, in line with international law. The EU reaffirmed its commitment to enlargement as an investment in peace, security, stability and prosperity, as declared in the 2003 Thessaloniki Agenda, and reiterated its unequivocal support for the EU membership perspective of the Western Balkans, based on credible reforms, fair and rigorous conditionality, and the principle of own merits. The EU welcomed Serbia's overall progress and encouraged further, more focused efforts to accelerate reforms, particularly in the rule of law, and to align fully with EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, and Ukraine aligned themselves with the statement.
The EU's statement reflects a continued emphasis on rule-of-law reforms and media freedom as central to Serbia's EU accession path, while balancing encouragement for progress with clear expectations on electoral integrity and regional normalization. The EU's position underscores a trade-off between supporting Serbia's reform efforts and maintaining pressure for tangible improvements, particularly in areas where ODIHR and media freedom bodies have raised concerns. For Serbian authorities, the statement implies both recognition of progress and a requirement to deliver on outstanding reforms, especially in electoral processes and journalist safety. For civil society and media actors, the EU's backing of the OSCE Mission's work and its call for an enabling environment signal continued international attention on these issues. The EU's reaffirmation of the enlargement perspective, tied to credible reforms and conditionality, maintains a balance between incentive and scrutiny, affecting Serbia's EU integration trajectory and its regional standing.