European Democrats Call on European Commission to Respond to Violence in Local Elections in Serbia

Sandro Gozi (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)

A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Secretary General of the European Democratic Party (EDP) Sandro Gozi called upon the European Commission on March 30 to respond to serious violence and intimidation during local elections in Serbia, warning that no country candidate for EU membership should credibly advance in the accession process while tolerating a climate of violence, pressure and violations of fundamental freedoms.

In a parliamentary question, Gozi urged the European Commission to condemn violence, intimidation and abuses, to appeal to the Serbian authorities to conduct an independent, swift and transparent investigation, and to clarify what consequences these events could have on the  Union’s assessment of Serbia’s compliance with obligations in the areas of the rule of law, democracy and electoral conditions, the European Democrats say.

The Party explained in a release that the election day was marked by attacks on citizens, observers and journalists, the presence of masked men near polling stations, and the search of  the People’s Movement of Serbia’s offices. Gozi pointed out that the events "confirm the continued deterioration of the rule of law and the minimal guarantees necessary for a free, fair and safe electoral process in Serbia".

"The violence, intimidation and pressure reported during these local elections are unacceptable and incompatible with Serbia’s European obligations. At the very least, Aleksandar Vucic’s government appears unable to guarantee the security, integrity and freedom of the electoral process. At worst, it allows, if not actively encourages, a climate of intimidation, political violence and impunity," Gozi warned. "No country candidate for EU membership can credibly advance on the path to accession while tolerating such a climate of violence, pressure and violations of fundamental freedoms," the Party concluded in the press release.