EU Parliament committee adopts much harsher report on Serbia's accession

The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) has approved a final report on Serbia that is considerably more critical and extensive than its initial draft. The report, prepared by rapporteur Tonino Picula, passed with 51 votes in favor, 14 against, and 10 abstentions.

The adopted text maintains the core assessment that Serbia's progress toward European Union membership has stalled. It highlights persistent problems in democracy, the rule of law, media freedom, election conditions, and relations with Kosovo. However, following the incorporation of compromise amendments, the report now includes a series of new criticisms, specific events, and more precise demands directed at both Serbian authorities and the European Commission.

Unlike the first draft, the version agreed upon by AFET does not soften existing criticisms but intensifies them. The report emphasizes that the EU accession process is merit-based yet "reversible." It stresses that Serbia must not only adopt reforms but also implement them fully, noting that the gap between legislative alignment and actual application continues to undermine the country's progress. The report also observes limited or no progress in fulfilling membership criteria across many negotiating chapters, with obligations from a November 2024 non-paper related to Cluster 3 remaining largely unmet.

The committee specifically requests that the European Commission link any significant backsliding by Serbia on its EU path to the pace and volume of financial support. The report also addresses the deepening political crisis in Serbia, referencing mass protests since November 2024 as a citizen reaction to systemic corruption and a perceived lack of accountability. It incorporates findings from an EP mission that noted growing polarization, limited parliamentary dialogue, and weakened trust in institutions as key factors in the crisis. Furthermore, the report condemns insults and hate speech directed at MEPs, including members of that mission.