European Socialists and Democrats Stand with Serbian Students

Student protests (BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC)

The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) on Jan. 28 issued a release saying the groups stood in solidarity with Serbian students “demanding justice and accountability for the 15 lives lost in a deadly collapse of the train station roof in Novi Sad,” noting that “in current circumstances, without fully respecting European values and rules, there can be no progress for Serbia on its path towards the EU.”

S&D, the second largest political group in the European Parliament (EP), stressed it firmly supported the people’s right to protest and strongly condemned any acts of intimidation, violence against protesters, and oppression of foreign citizens.

Kathleen Van Brempt, S&D vice-president for enlargement, said the group had been closely following the massive student protests in Serbia, “fully aware of the historical power of Serbian students and the change they brought in the 1990s through their protests against then-president Slobodan Milosevic.” She also said the group was particularly concerned about the severely restricted functioning of the Serbian parliament, noting that “this lack of institutional activity exacerbates tensions on the streets, as there are no formal channels to address political disagreements”.

“In current circumstances, without fully respecting European values and rules, there can be no progress for Serbia on its path towards the EU, no opening of new chapters or clusters in the accession negotiations. Nevertheless, we will continue to stand with the people of Serbia who are demanding justice and democracy,” Van Brempt said, according to the release on the S&D website.