At its regular session in Strasbourg, from 20 to 23 October, the European Parliament will discuss the political and social crisis in Serbia, and Members of Parliament are expected to adopt a new resolution which, according to announcements, will address the growing polarisation and intensified repression in Serbia, one year after the tragedy in Novi Sad, reports the portal Savremena Politika today.
The debate and the new resolution have been included on the agenda at the initiative of the parliamentary groups of the Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe (RENEW), and the Greens (Greens/EFA), with the support of the European People’s Party (EPP).
According to information obtained by Savremena Politika from sources within the European Parliament, the European People’s Party had certain reservations about adopting a separate resolution, insisting that the term “polarisation” be included in the title of the resolution, which led to a compromise among parliamentary groups that allowed its adoption.
On behalf of the European Union institutions, representatives of the European Commission and the European Council – currently chaired by Denmark during this six-month period – will address the Members of Parliament.
This will be the third debate on Serbia in the European Parliament since the beginning of the year. In early September, Members discussed the wave of repression against protesters, civil society, and the media, while in February, a debate was held on the political crisis. Both debates at that time concluded without the adoption of a resolution.
Throughout the year, parliamentary groups attempted twice more to include the issue of Serbia on the agenda. In March, the EPP rejected a proposal to hold a debate on the situation in Serbia, immediately after the large student protest held in Belgrade on 15 March.
The most recent regular resolution on Serbia was adopted in May 2025, when MEPs expressed serious concern over the deterioration of democratic standards, the lack of progress in European integration, and the state of media freedom.
At that time, it was emphasised that the authorities in Belgrade were expected to implement OSCE recommendations, ensure free elections, and strengthen institutional accountability.
The new debate in Strasbourg will take place just a few weeks before the publication of the European Commission’s annual report on Serbia’s progress, giving it additional political significance and indicating that European institutions will continue to closely monitor the situation in the country, the portal notes.
(Nova, 08.10.2025)