MEP Van Brempt: I Use Every Opportunity to Defend Serbian Students

Protest in Belgrade on March 15 (BETAPHOTO/EMIL VAS)

I use every opportunity I have to defend the students from Serbia in the European Parliament (EP) and I call on the president of the European Council, Antonio Costa, for everyone to stop appeasing Vucic’s government, Member of the European Parliament Kathleen van Brempt stated on July 9.

In an interview to TV N1, she commented on the current political situation in Serbia and stated that describing the students in blockade as “terrorists” spoke volumes about Vucic’s current government. “In the process of demanding transparency and accountability, the students are fighting for what is very important to the European Union, too, and that is the rule of law and democracy. Those are the legitimate requests of the students’ movement and I believe that we in the EU should support those demands much more and call Vucic to account,” stated Van Brempt.

She added that she had attempted to put the issue of Serbian police’s excessive use of force at protests throughout Serbia on the EP’s agenda, but that the motion had been denied. “I use every opportunity I have to defend the students (in Serbia) and to call on the Commission and Council President Antonio Costa for everyone to stop appeasing Vucic’s government and be much louder,” she stated.

Van Brempt stated that Serbia was “a very important EU member candidate” and that she hoped it could join the Union. “I know the EU is not perfect, but it is based on the values of democracy and rule of law and that is why we must speak loudly about it. My message to all who protest in Serbia is that I will keep it on the political agenda,” stated Van Brempt, who has on several occasions declared support to the students and civil protests throughout Serbia, stating that Serbian students were “braver than the European Commission, and possibly even the EU.”