Joint EU-Serbia Consultative Committee Voices Concerns over Electoral Environment

Local Elections in Bor, March 29 2026 (BETAPHOTO/Sasa Trifunovic)

A joint EU-Serbia Consultative Committee (JCC) has adopted a declaration in which it voices its concern with the electoral environment and reforms of the judiciary in Serbia, but also the situation on the media scene and repressive measures against culture and education professionals for supporting student protests.

The declaration, which was passed at the JCC's 21st meeting in Brussels, says that some measures constitute backsliding in the European integration process. The joint declaration was supported by all of the Committee's members except the Serbian Chamber of Commerce which abstained from voting.

In the document the JCC strongly condemns the violence that was reported during local elections on March 29 and points to reports on pressures on voters as well as allegations of illegal organized voting practices, and calls on the European Commission to consider establishing a long-term presence for observing elections.

The JCC strongly condemns reports on retaliation against state officials and institutions in education and culture, as well as repressive measures toward employees in culture for voicing support for the student protests, including layoffs, intimidation, salary reductions and withholding institutional and financial support.

The Committee voices its serious concern with recent events that affect the independence of the judiciary in Serbia, including the process of adopting and the content of a package of judicial laws.  It says that this poses a major step backward on Serbia's road to the EU and calls on the Serbian authorities to urgently revisit the amendments, including reviewing legal options to stop their implementation and that they fully take the Venice Commission's upcoming opinion into account.

The JCC also calls on the authorities to strengthen the independence and efficiency of anti-corruption institutions and special prosecutors, ensure convincing results in investigations and the processing of high-level corruption, including in large-scale public investment projects like the Novi Sad railways station overhaul.