Citizens and NGOs in Serbia are endorsing an initiative to formally notify the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) about serious legal violations, corruption, and security risks associated with the international specialized exhibition Expo 2027, which is set to take place in Belgrade.

The document, directed to BIE Secretary General Dimitri Kerkences, members of the BIE Executive Board, and the delegations from all BIE member states, asserts that this official notice “cautions against significant, credible, and documented legal violations” connected to the Expo 2027.

It emphasizes that the notification draws from publicly accessible information, official documents, research reports, and expert analyses, stating the evidence presented exemplifies “a classic case of state capture, where governmental mechanisms are systematically corrupted for private gain at the cost of public interest.”

“This isn’t merely an isolated occurrence of corruption; it’s a broad undermining of democratic governance and the rule of law. The integrity of the World Exhibition movement and the safety of millions of potential attendees hinge on the swift and decisive actions of the International Bureau of Expositions. History illustrates that international organizations that overlook credible corruption evidence face enduring harm to their legitimacy and effectiveness,” the document indicates.

The document, which can be signed at this link, also outlines immediate risks such as security, financial, environmental, reputational, and legal concerns.

“While the BIE has an oversight function and does not directly control the host country’s operations, its inaction in response to credible claims of corruption and violations of security norms could result in significant reputational and institutional issues. Such inaction could weaken the BIE’s legitimacy, challenge scrutiny from Member States and international entities, and compromise the integrity of the World Expo movement,” the document notes.

Additionally, it stresses that the matters raised are “extremely grave” and “demand urgent attention and action from the BIE to avert irreversible harm to the institution of World Exhibitions and to ensure public safety and resource protection.”

“From the moment this notification is received, the International Exhibitions Bureau cannot claim ignorance of the aforementioned issues,” states the formal notice, with copies also being sent to various international organizations, including the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the OECD, Transparency International, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the Council of Europe, and pertinent diplomatic missions in Belgrade.

The official document mentions that the Serbian Parliament has passed a special law (lex specialis) “that fundamentally undermines the rule of law” by allowing contracts worth up to one billion euros to be awarded without competitive bidding, suspending the application of essential laws, and disabling legal protections for affected parties.

It notes that the Serbian government has failed to establish any independent oversight mechanism for the Expo 2027 exhibition, with certain entities awarded lucrative contracts without public tenders, and evidence indicates systematic mismanagement and financial misrepresentation.

Furthermore, the initial budget has soared from one to 18 billion euros, and a special law permits construction work to proceed without necessary permits for over two years, with technical inspections being conducted by the contractors themselves.

The Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) raised alarms in February 2025, asserting that the Expo project poses a risk of “irreversible environmental damage” and endangers Belgrade’s water infrastructure, as indicated in the document.

It also highlights that the area affected by the project has expanded by 684 percent—from 119 to 813 hectares—without justification, and that the state is buying back previously privatized land at prices upwards of 100 times the original sales price.

As of March 2025, over 100,000 Serbian citizens had signed a petition demanding the cancellation of the Expo 2027 exhibition, and opposition political parties have officially urged the Bureau to revoke Serbia’s license to host the event.

The signatories are urging, among other actions, that the International Exhibitions Bureau promptly initiate discussions with member nations to explore the establishment of an independent monitoring mechanism for Expo 2027 in Belgrade.

They also call for the Bureau to facilitate the formation of an international panel of experts in law, finance, construction safety, and environmental protection to carry out a thorough assessment of the Belgrade Expo’s adherence to international standards.

The Bureau is mandated to engage with Serbian authorities to restore full enforcement of public procurement laws, establish independent oversight mechanisms, comply with all safety and environmental regulations, and ensure complete transparency in all contracts and expenditures.

The document further states that this official notification is submitted in accordance with the Principles outlined in the 1928 Convention on International Exhibitions, the UN Convention against Corruption—which Serbia has signed—the fundamental principles of transparency, good governance, and rule of law, the BIE’s mandate to safeguard the integrity of world exhibitions, and the responsibility of citizens to inform international bodies of threats to the public interest.

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