GRECO report: Serbia falls short on anti-corruption recommendations for top officials

An anti-corruption body of the Council of Europe, GRECO, has issued a critical report finding that Serbia has not adequately followed through on recommendations to combat corruption within its executive branch and law enforcement agencies. The Syndicate of Judicial Authorities highlighted that this marks the second consecutive time Serbia has failed to meet the necessary standards for implementing GRECO's advice.

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This is another serious signal that Serbia's institutions are not building sufficiently strong mechanisms against political influence, lack of transparency, and corruption in the executive branch, i.e., among the holders of the highest executive functions and in law enforcement agencies.

The report signifies a serious concern that Serbia's institutions are not sufficiently developing robust safeguards against political influence, opacity, and corrupt practices among high-ranking officials. According to GRECO's rules, at least two-thirds of recommendations must be implemented or deemed satisfactorily addressed for a review phase to conclude successfully. Serbia has not achieved this benchmark.

Consequently, GRECO has decided to apply a more stringent measure: enhanced supervision under its revised rule 32. This involves submitting a new progress report by the end of June 2027 and activating mediation by the president of the Statutory Committee. Serbia's permanent representative to the Council of Europe will also receive a letter of concern.

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According to GRECO's rules, for the procedure to be successfully concluded at this stage, at least two-thirds of the recommendations must be implemented or assessed as satisfactorily implemented.

This intensified oversight underscores the persistent challenges Serbia faces in aligning its anti-corruption efforts with European standards. The Syndicate of Judicial Authorities noted that Serbia's failure to demonstrate sufficient progress means it has not yet met acceptable European standards for implementing the recommendations from GRECO's fifth round of evaluations.

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This means that Serbia, even on the second attempt, has failed to show that the recommendations from the fifth round have been implemented to a degree acceptable by European standards.