Commissioner Marta Kos addressed the European Parliament on February 11, 2025, regarding the political crisis in Serbia triggered by the tragic incident at the Novi Sad railway station and subsequent widespread citizen protests. This speech is solely her perspective and highlights the European Commission's focus on democratic values and the EU accession process for Serbia.
Emphasis on Democratic Values and Civil Participation Kos underlined the importance of citizens’ peaceful assembly, transparency, and accountability, emphasizing their role in democratic development. She criticized violent incidents against demonstrators and urged Serbian authorities to ensure their safety and conduct impartial investigations. The speech expressed concerns over the police treatment of peaceful civil society activists and breaches of personal data privacy.
Concrete EU Policy Orientations and Reform Expectations The speech outlined specific reforms expected from Serbia as part of its EU accession pathway: strengthening judicial independence, fighting corruption, promoting media pluralism, ensuring accountable public procurement, and creating a resilient civil society environment. Kos characterized these reforms as both legislative and practical, with the potential to transform Serbian society and align it with EU standards. However, she noted the accession process has become more political, gradual, and reversible, requiring all sectors of Serbian society—government, opposition, and civil actors—to own it as a national project.
Political and Geopolitical Dimensions Kos stressed the necessity for Serbia to progressively align with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, underscoring EU demands for commitment to a rules-based multilateral order amid geopolitical challenges.
Stakeholder Impact - Serbian authorities face increased pressure to conduct fair investigations and uphold human rights. - Serbian civil society and students gain potential empowerment through calls for inclusive dialogue and reforms enhancing freedoms. - EU Member States anticipate Serbia's alignment with EU foreign policy standards. - Euro-integrative business sectors may benefit from improved governance structures but confront an extended and conditional accession process.
This speech signals a clearer and more conditional EU accession path demanding concrete reforms and societal consensus in Serbia, with a focus on democratic values, rule of law, and geopolitical alignment.
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