MEP Schieder: No One Serious in the European Parliament Supports Vucic

Andreas Schieder (Photo: PrintScreen YouTube)

Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Andreas Schieder said that Serbia was regressing in its European integration and that "no one serious in the European Parliament defends what Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is doing."

In an interview with N1 TV he said that Vucic's allies "have gotten lost" leaving him alone.

"The concern over the OSCE's and ODIHR's recommendations for elections are large. The last elections, especially those in 2023, were fiercely criticized. Commissioner Kos clearly said that these issues needed to be solved ahead of the next elections in Serbia. Also, there are many violations of the rule of law, which the Serbian authorities are doing and a long list of recommendations from the Venice Commission that must be applied immediately," Schieder said.

He added that "no one wants democratic backsliding" but that it was happening and that it would be recommended that the EU start freezing funds for Serbia.

"We are talking about the process of conducting the necessary reforms. Also, European standards need to be approached and one of the key standards is the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and a functioning electoral system. In all of these areas [Serbian President] Aleksandar Vucic has committed violations, along with his majority in parliament. Either they will change this and abandon their ideas or funding will be blocked, it's simple," Schieder said.

Schieder also said that the majority of MEPs supported the student movement and democratic opposition.

He added that a meeting between Marta Kos and Belgrade University Rector Vladan Djokic in Brussels on April 20 had to do with education, but added that, considering that student protests have been going on for months "this meeting had a strong political weight and sent a clear message, and it would be good for Serbia's citizens to see that."