Marta Kos (BETAPHOTO/STA/Thierry Monasse)
On Jan. 29, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos called on the National Assembly of Serbia to, “as soon as possible,” revise the newly amended judicial laws and align them with European standards.
“We truly call on the parliament of Serbia to revise those laws as soon as possible and align [its] judicial laws with European standards,” Kos stated upon arriving at a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
The commissioner stressed that the EU still “very much” wants Serbia in its fold. “I won’t stop working on this,” Kos said.
Kos also reiterated the message she posted on X on Jan. 28, where she dubbed the Serbian parliament’s adoption of a set of judicial laws “a serious step back on Serbia's EU path,” explaining the amendments were adopted “in a rushed and opaque manner without any consultations.”
“It is interesting to note that a new dynamic in the enlargement process is visible. Albania and Montenegro are truly progressing quickly toward membership, while Serbia is going in the opposite direction, so I really don’t understand why this is happening and this is something we don’t want to see,” Kos stated.
She pointed out that EU candidate countries – which include Serbia – are expected to appear European.
On Jan. 28, the National Assembly of Serbia adopted a set of amended judicial laws proposed by ruling Serbian Progressive Party MP Ugljesa Mrdic, while all amendments put forth by the opposition were rejected. During days of deliberation, regime MPs defended Mrdic’s amendments, claiming they will aid efficiency and justice. Meanwhile, opposition MPs maintained that the purpose of the amendments is for the authorities to increase their control over the judiciary and reduce the objectivity of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
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