A group of Member of the European Parliament (MEPs) reached out to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding her upcoming meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. They expressed that this meeting is fundamentally concerning and may risk further damaging the EU’s image in Serbia at such a pivotal moment, as reported by Danas.

According to the European Western Balkans (EWB) portal, the letter was endorsed by 31 MEPs from four different parliamentary factions: Social Democrats, Greens, Liberals, and the Left. Some signatories are well-known figures within Serbia, including Vladimir Prebilič, Andreas Schider, Thomas Weiz, Irena Joveva, and Theis Reuthen.

The MEPs conveyed serious apprehension concerning the upcoming meeting with Vučić next week, highlighting that the timing of the meeting sends a troubling and harmful signal, especially given the severity of the political crisis in Serbia.

“In recent weeks, Serbia has experienced its largest protests in history, where citizens have voiced their outrage over systemic corruption and the tragic collapse of a canopy at the Novi Sad Railway Station, which resulted in 15 fatalities,” the MEPs stated.

They pointed out that the student-led protests, which began in November of last year, reflect an increasing public demand for accountability, transparency, and democratic reforms—principles that the EU champions.

The letter also mentioned that the EU’s credibility in the Western Balkans has recently taken a significant hit. The absence of EU flags at the protests illustrates the widespread disappointment with unfulfilled promises and the EU’s support for stability at the expense of democratic values, according to Danas.

“Meeting with President Vučić at this critical moment could reinforce the view that the EU is disregarding democratic decline, further distancing the Serbian public from the EU,” it continued.

The MEPs emphasized that the targeting of credible civil society partners, politically motivated prosecutions, and the purported use of illicit crowd control technology highlight the gravity of the situation. Hence, holding this meeting now is not only problematic but fundamentally inappropriate.

They called on Von der Leyen to rethink the meeting and instead take this opportunity to convey a firm and clear message on behalf of the EU: “Serbia urgently requires a transitional government built on electoral trust and civic unity to restore public confidence and establish the groundwork for truly free and fair elections.”

“Anything less would undermine the democratic aspirations of the Serbian populace and the EU’s stance in the region. Serbia is part of Europe, and it is essential to display our commitment to our values and principles at times like this,” the MEPs asserted.

They concluded by stressing that the citizens of Serbia deserve a strong and unmistakable message from Brussels that supports them in their “unprecedented fight for rule of law, democracy, and accountability.”

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