Bilcik: Canceling EuroPride in Belgrade Would Be Clearly Noticed in EU Institutions

Vladimir Bilcik (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC/DS)

European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Serbia Vladimir Bilcik on Aug. 23 said that he considered voices calling for cancelling EuroPride 2022 in Belgrade dangerous.   

Bilcik said that if the event was not held as scheduled, it would have an important place in his report on Serbia to the EP, adding he believed that other EU institutions would also react.  

“This year, it will be a special Pride as it will have a strong European dimension. So, all those voices I consider dangerous. They obviously do not want to see Serbia making progress on its EU path, they do not want to see Serbia’s EU future,” Bilcik told Radio Free Europe.  

Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Sapic has said he would oppose an event like EuroPride also “if it was organized by heterosexuals,” but has added that the City of Belgrade, in case the event is held, will ensure community order.

Speaking to Prva TV, Sapic said that the problem was not the holding of EuroPride or expression of sexual orientation, but “how it looks like,” adding that “it is at odds with some of our traditional values.”