European Parliament Member: Situation in Serbia Is Deteriorating, Every Element of Democracy Is Under Attack

European Parliament (BETAPHOTO/European Parliament/Philippe STIRNWEISS)

Belgian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Kathleen van Brempt warned on Sept. 27 that the situation in Serbia was deteriorating that every element of democracy was under attack, and that very few free media outlets still existed.

"I am deeply concerned because the situation is deteriorating week by week and degrading rapidly. Every element of democracy is now under attack in Serbia. The right to protest, free media, the right of students to criticize – all elements of democracy are under attack, and the situation is getting increasingly serious, which is extremely worrying," she said in an interview for N1.

Van Brempt insisted that it was very important for this issue to remain on the political agenda, not only in the European Parliament, but also that "the (European) Commission needs to be forced to take strict measures." The MEP said that "there are not many free media outlets left in Serbia," adding that N1 was one of them.

"I would add – although it is not enough – that everyone should defend the free media and the independence of N1. I am not sure if people are aware of the similarities with what has been happening in Hungary over the past few years, or with what is happening now in the U.S., where people who are critical of the authorities are being attacked, fired, forced to leave their jobs," said Kathleen van Brempt, adding that EU institutions are "now the only ones that can preserve democracy. It is time to act