The European Commission expects Serbia to uphold the rights of peaceful demonstration, freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, and to investigate cases of police violence as a matter of priority, High Representative Kaja Kallas said in a written answer on 17 June 2026. The answer, given on behalf of the Commission, also warned that pre-accession funding could be affected if conditions are not met.
The answer responds to a parliamentary question from Renew MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, submitted on 22 April 2026, about violent clashes between police and student-led protesters in Serbia. Kyuchyuk had asked whether the Commission would issue a formal assessment of the proportionality of the Serbian authorities' response, consider suspending or recalibrating pre-accession funding, and strengthen engagement with civil society.
Kallas's answer did not announce any immediate suspension of funds but noted that the Commission continuously assesses whether conditions for support under EU financial instruments are met, including at the stage of each payment request under the Western Balkans Reform and Growth Facility. The Commission expects Serbia to make progress on key reforms, notably in the area of rule of law, fundamental rights and democratic principles. The answer also flagged concerns about recently adopted judicial legislation and expects Serbia to fully implement the Venice Commission's urgent opinion on it.
The 2026 Enlargement Package, due later this year, will provide an overview of developments in Serbia and an assessment of progress. The Commission said it meets frequently with stakeholders from across Serbian society, reflecting the view that enlargement is a whole-of-society process.
the Commission is not yet triggering sanctions but is putting Serbia on notice that funding conditionality is being monitored and that the upcoming enlargement report will reflect the situation. The main stakeholders affected are the Serbian government, which faces potential funding constraints if reforms stall; Serbian civil society and student movements, which gain EU backing for their demands; EU member states, which may debate the pace of Serbia's accession; and the European Commission itself, which must balance credibility of conditionality with maintaining engagement in the Western Balkans.