Picula to Demostat: Serbia’s EU Path Stalled by Democratic Decline and Lack of Reforms

Serbia's path to European Union membership has been stagnant for years, primarily due to a significant decline in democratic standards and a lack of genuine reforms, according to Tonino Picula, the European Parliament's rapporteur for Serbia.

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Reforms must be genuine not cosmetic.

In an interview with the Demostat portal, Picula emphasized that the reforms required for EU accession must be substantive, not merely cosmetic. He pointed to the four-year stagnation in relations between Brussels and Belgrade as a reflection of deep-seated concerns over developments within Serbia. Picula noted that Serbian authorities have shown limited cooperation, with ruling coalition officials often avoiding meetings with him in his capacity as rapporteur.

"I have always been available to all political players in Serbia, but their attitude towards me says a lot about the political will of some to discuss openly the issues important for EU accession," Picula stated. He asserted that Serbia remains far from achieving free and fair elections, despite official claims that legislative changes align with recommendations from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). Recent local elections, he argued, demonstrated that the necessary conditions for "fair, transparent, and inclusive" elections are still absent.

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I have always been available to all political players in Serbia, but their attitude towards me says a lot about the political will of some to discuss openly the issues important for EU accession.

Picula dismissed accusations from Serbian authorities that the EU is orchestrating political unrest, labeling them as attempts to propagate conspiracy theories. He attributed the protests occurring in Serbia to widespread dissatisfaction stemming from corruption, the erosion of institutional strength, pressure exerted on activists and journalists, and a general decline in public trust towards the government. "The consequences of these interconnected deficits are a complete standstill on Serbia's path towards the EU," he concluded.

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Serbia is far from free and fair elections despite claims by Serbian officials that changes to laws are in line with ODIHR recommendations.

Looking ahead, Picula urged the European Commission to adopt a more distinct and consistent strategy when engaging with Serbia. He recalled past criticisms from the European Parliament regarding the Commission's perceived lenient approach toward Belgrade. Picula also highlighted that EU enlargement is increasingly viewed not just as a matter of meeting standards but also as a critical security and geopolitical issue, requiring candidate countries to consistently uphold rule of law and align with EU policies.

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The accusations were attempts to spread conspiracy theories.