The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, has urged Serbian authorities to investigate the incidents involving protesters, who have been rallying for three months to demand accountability for the tragic deaths of 15 individuals after a canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station.

“There are reports of incidents against protesters. We expect a thorough, impartial, and quick investigation. Violence must not be tolerated. We anticipate that the Serbian police will continue to guarantee the safety of protesters. Language that promotes violence and disrespect cannot resolve these issues,” stated the European Commissioner in an open letter released on the European Commission’s website.

Kos confirmed that she is closely monitoring the protests in Serbia and has received multiple letters from members of the Serbian academy, political representatives, and civil society organizations expressing their concerns about the ongoing situation in the country.

She emphasized that freedom of assembly is a core value of the shared European project and should be honored.

Kos reiterated that the European Union, along with President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to assist Serbia in its progress towards EU membership.

However, she stressed that the journey to EU membership involves reforms that incorporate our shared values into legislation and practice, asserting that Serbia’s path to EU integration can address many issues currently under discussion.

“The reforms associated with the EU accession process will bolster the fight against corruption, ensure judicial independence and institutional accountability, promote media freedom and pluralism, and enhance electoral conditions. When implemented effectively, these reforms will yield transformative benefits for all citizens and draw Serbia closer to the European Union,” the European Commissioner for Enlargement remarked.

Marta Kos remarked on the significance of fostering an environment for inclusive dialogue that encompasses all stakeholders, including political actors, institutions, and civil society members, to address the reforms necessary for Serbia’s European future.

This, she said, will not only fortify Serbian society but also solidify the country’s trajectory towards EU membership.

This represents the first significant communication from European institutions regarding the situation in Serbia since the protests commenced in November of last year.

European Union officials have made comments only after numerous inquiries from journalists, primarily focusing on the democratic right to protest and the necessity for journalists and civil activists to operate freely.

Ursula von der Leyen had a telephone conversation with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on February 4. President Vučić was the only one to comment on the discussion and did not mention the ongoing protests in the country.

The President of the European Commission did not indicate that she had spoken with her Serbian counterpart, as she often does through social media.

Additionally, her spokesperson team did not respond to inquiries from Radio Free Europe regarding the conversation or whether the protests were discussed.

A group of students in Serbia has been blocking over 60 state faculties across five universities for more than two months, demanding the fulfillment of four specific requests.

Students participating in the blockade are calling for the release of all documentation concerning the reconstruction of the main railway station in Novi Sad, the immediate prosecution of civilians who physically assaulted them during the protests, the dropping of charges against those arrested during the demonstrations concerning the fatalities, as well as an additional 20 percent in funding for faculty expenses.

The Serbian government asserts that it has addressed these demands. However, the students deny this and continue their protests.

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