EU Funds for Serbia Frozen Pending Judicial Reform Compliance

Brussels – European Union funds designated for Serbia under the bloc's Growth Plan remain on hold, with Brussels awaiting concrete signs of compliance with the Venice Commission's recommendations. The EU's position is clear: until Serbia demonstrates a commitment to judicial reform, particularly concerning recently adopted amendments to judicial and prosecutorial laws, the financial support will not be disbursed.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, stated on Thursday evening that "For the time being, we have stopped all the payments form the Growth Plan because Serbia was backsliding in the judiciary again, and as long as they will not repair this, they will not be able to get European financial support." This freeze places Serbia's access to over 1 billion euros in funding in jeopardy. The European Commission will conduct an assessment once Belgrade takes tangible steps towards reform, leading to a final decision on the payout.

Should the Commission's assessment be unfavorable, the suspension of funds will become permanent, and the substantial financial package intended for Serbia could be reallocated to other participating countries. This situation underscores the critical importance of judicial independence and adherence to European standards for Serbia's economic integration and development. The ball is now firmly in Belgrade's court to enact meaningful reforms and unlock the much-needed financial assistance.

“

For the time being, we have stopped all the payments form the Growth Plan because Serbia was backsliding in the judiciary again, and as long as they will not repair this, they will not be able to get European financial support