European Movement: One More Warning from Brussels to Serbian Authorities

Jelica Minic (Beta/Media Center Belgrade)

President of the European Movement in Serbia (EMinS) Jelica Minic said on Feb. 22 that the amendments submitted by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to Vladimir Bilcik's report on Serbia's progress in European integration were a clear warning to the authorities in Belgrade that they had to fight organized crime and corruption much more effectively. 

The MEPs proposed amendments asking the Serbian authorities to solve the Jovanjica, Krusik, Telekom and Savamala affairs.

Minic told BETA that the EP had made it clear it would closely watch further developments in these affairs and the judicial proceedings in resolving them. She added that what was especially devastating was a warning about unacceptable and offensive hate speech, insults and calls for violence that dominated the Serbian political scene and which had spilled over into the manner of communication with the EU itself and the EP in particular.

"It was specifically pointed out that the leading role in that is played by the pro-government media and representatives of the ruling party, who jeopardize freedom of speech and critical thinking through disinformation and fabrication of false culprits in the opposition, media and the civil society," the EMinS president said.