EP rapporteur warns Serbia is sliding deeper into “state of emergency” under Vučić

European Parliament rapporteur for enlargement Tonino Picula argued that Serbia’s democratic shortcomings and lack of alignment with EU foreign policy prevent it from moving closer to membership. According to him, Serbia, in its current state, cannot become a member of the European Union. Serbian Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić hit back directly at him, declaring that Serbia “does not want to join the union that Picula represents”.

Picula warned that the country has for months been living under conditions resembling a “state of emergency,” even if such a measure has not been formally declared.

Speaking to N1 Zagreb, Picula argued that “standard democratic mechanisms for resolving internal conflicts no longer exist” in Serbia, where political violence has escalated and institutions remain blocked. He described the situation as a form of “institutional gridlock,” with authorities relying increasingly on force to maintain control.

According to the Croatian MEP, this erosion of democratic practice became especially visible after the large opposition rally on 18 June, when, he said, the government of President Aleksandar Vučić “took off the gloves” and resorted to a harsher use of force against critics.

Picula expressed his deepest concern about the possibility of renewed bloodshed amid ongoing street clashes. He recalled the tragedy of 1 November last year, when 16 people died after the collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station. “I fear the 17th victim,” he said, warning that if new deaths occur in political conflicts, Serbia could enter an even more dangerous spiral of escalation.

Limited EU leverage

Despite growing alarm in parts of Brussels, Picula underlined that the European Union lacks both the political will and the internal unity to put meaningful pressure on the Serbian leadership.

“Unlike Ukraine, there is no sense of cohesion within the EU when it comes to Serbia. That makes it difficult to create the pressure that could force compromise or lead to new elections,” he noted. The European Parliament, he added, has remained one of the few EU institutions openly critical of Belgrade.

At the same time, Picula stressed that power in Serbia must ultimately be decided by Serbian citizens, not by external actors. But whether Serbia’s government meets the EU’s membership criteria, he said, is a decision for Brussels.

When asked who in Serbia could serve as a credible negotiating partner today, Picula acknowledged the complexity of the political landscape. Elections, he said, have been frequent and often used by Vučić to reinforce his legitimacy. But the opposition remains fragmented, and “not everything that is against Vučić is necessarily pro-European,” he observed, pointing to the heterogeneity of anti-government forces.

This, he warned, complicates the EU’s engagement. Even within the Parliament, he admitted, there is not yet a “critical mass” capable of transforming analysis and criticism into sustained political pressure on Belgrade.

No illusions about Vučić

Picula also stated that none of the relevant political actors in the EU harbours “any illusions” about the nature of President Vučić or the type of governance he represents. In his view, Serbia in its current state cannot become a member of the European Union.

The rapporteur suggested that Croatia, as a neighbouring member state, should take a stronger stance against what he described as “manipulations by Vučić’s government,” including the periodic detention and expulsion of Croatian citizens from Serbia.

Picula has recently faced criticism in Serbia over a photo from the 1990s war years that resurfaced around the 30th anniversary of Operation Storm, the Croatian military offensive that marked a decisive moment in the country’s independence. He defended his post, saying he had no intention to provoke and that it was simply an occasion to remember a “internationally recognised operation” that shaped Croatia’s path.

EU rapporteur accused of compromising neutrality over Operation Storm post

He added that Serbia’s political difficulties today are closely linked to its unresolved relationship with the past: “Serbia cannot agree on its future, but there is consensus when it comes to interpreting history – and that was evident after my post.”

Belgrade’s sharp response

The reaction from Belgrade was swift. Ana Brnabić, Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, accused Picula of bias and declared that Serbia “does not want to join the Union represented by Picula.”

In a post on social media platform X, Brnabić referred to Operation Storm as “the largest ethnic cleansing on European soil in the past 80 years,” and accused the MEP of glorifying crimes by publishing a photo of himself with a rifle. She added that Serbia “will not apologise” for its view of the past and will not “stay silent while hundreds of thousands in Zagreb chant the Ustasha slogan ‘For the homeland – ready’.”

According to Brnabić, Picula “is not the EU, although he wants to present himself as such.” She claimed he has become a problem “for the EU itself, not for us.”

The war of words highlights the deep rift between Serbia and parts of the EU. While the European Parliament continues to raise alarm about democratic backsliding, other EU institutions and member states remain hesitant to confront Belgrade directly, citing competing interests and political sensitivities.

EU urged to confront Vučić over Serbia’s democratic backsliding

Sources: BETA, BGNES

Caption: Protesters walk past an overturned dumpster on fire during an anti-government protest in Belgrade, Serbia, 15 August 2025. Violent clashes broke out in Serbia this week between anti-government protesters, supporters of the ruling SNS party, and police. EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC