In a letter sent on Thursday 9 April to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and to the college of Commissioners, MEPs Sandro Gozi (Renew Europe, Italian) and Vladimir Prebilič (Greens/EFA, Slovenian) sound the alarm over “the erosion of all norms and rules” in Serbia and call for swift action on the Union’s part.
The elected officials cite, in particular, recent events at the University of Belgrade, the police raids carried out there and the public attacks targeting Rector Vladan Đokić. These “actions [...], broadcast live on pro-government television channels, [... are] a deliberate attempt to intimidate academic institutions and silence critical voices”.
The letter also condemns recent statements by Serbian Minister of Information and Telecommunications Boris Bratina, who suggested that the police should use lethal force against the students.
The MEPs are calling on the European Commission to take “a firm position” by suspending EU funds “to Serbia until concrete and verifiable reforms are implemented”. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)