EPP loses patience with Vučić’s SNS as red lines are crossed

The European People’s Party (EPP) has opened a scrutiny process into the membership of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić’s party, its leader Manfred Weber confirmed on Tuesday, signalling a sharp turn in the centre-right family’s approach towards Belgrade.

Speaking to reporters in Strasbourg, Weber said that “the EPP cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening in Serbia,” as growing unrest in the country and Vučić’s alignment with Russia and Hungary raise tensions inside the party headquarters. An EPP working group will examine the status of Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which has been an associate member since Serbia became an EU candidate country.

Mass demonstrations erupted in Serbia last November after the canopy of the newly renovated train station in Novi Sad collapsed, killing 16 people. Student protesters blame corruption and negligence for the tragedy and have since demanded Vučić’s resignation and early elections. Reports of police brutality, harassment of opposition activists, and heavy-handed crackdowns have further fuelled public anger.

Vučić has rejected the calls for elections, accusing protesters and foreign forces of trying to destabilise the country. In an interview with Euronews in late August, he defended the authorities’ handling of the protests, insisting that “any kind of violence we saw in the streets is not good for this country” and placing responsibility on demonstrators. He praised the police for remaining calm and compared their behaviour favourably with law enforcement in other EU countries.

At the same time, the Serbian leader has tried to balance criticism from Brussels with gestures towards Europe. In June, he travelled to Ukraine for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion, presenting the visit as a show of support for Kyiv. Yet his close relationship with Vladimir Putin, symbolised by his presence at Moscow’s Victory Day parade in May, has deepened concerns within the EU about Serbia’s strategic orientation.

Inside the EPP, Vučić’s membership has become a divisive issue. While some argue that keeping communication channels open is strategically useful, others believe that tolerating his increasingly authoritarian politics undermines the party’s credibility. His absence from the EPP’s Valencia congress earlier this year was interpreted by many insiders as a sign that the leadership preferred to downplay his role.

Outright insults

The rift has widened after Vučić lashed out with outright insults at visiting European Green politicians who joined demonstrations in Novi Sad, calling them “the scum” of Europe’s green movement and threatening legal action under Serbian law. Vula Tsetsi and Rasmus Nordqvist MEP were visiting Serbia to show solidarity with the peaceful protesters and the Green-Left Front party. On Friday, they held a press conference in the National Assembly in Belgrade with the co-presidents of the Green-Left Front, Biljana Đorđević and Radomir Lazović.

The key quote where Vučić referred to them as “scum” is: “Some scum have gathered there, the scum that cannot rule even in their own countries (…) Those who have come to demolish Serbia from the outside, from abroad have to know that we will fight back stronger than they thought (…) I respect Ursula von der Leyen, I respect Antonio Costa, but this scum from the European Green Party (…) the worst kind of scum that came to support the violence in Novi Sad. No more, no less than that.”

Vula Tsetsi, co-chair of the European Green Party, responded:

“A President who once labelled peaceful protesters as “terrorists” and now calls a member of the European Parliament and a European political party delegation “scum” has crossed every line of democratic discourse. Freedom of speech cannot be attacked, nor can hate speech be tolerated from the Head of a Republic. Vučić’s threat to prosecute is even more alarming, as it undermines the rule of law. By portraying European visitors as threats to Serbia’s stability, he is attacking all democrats. What we witnessed is the authoritarianism that Serbian citizens face daily. Our solidarity is with them, their courage in defending democracy deserves support, not hostility. The European Union cannot remain silent”,

The European Greens have called on EU leaders to denounce Vučić’s intimidation tactics and defend Serbian citizens’ right to peaceful protest. In a joint letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Parliament President Roberta Metsola, and Council President António Costa, they urged the EU to “defend European values and show solidarity with the citizens of Serbia.”

Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos also issued a stark warning after talks in Vienna, stressing that branding MEPs as “scum” reveals “a questionable understanding of democracy.” She urged the Serbian authorities to refocus on EU-related reforms, including judicial independence, free media, and electoral law changes that guarantee fair competition.

“People have the right to protest, and the severe violence on the streets of Serbia, acts of vandalism, must stop,” Kos said, adding that the police must act proportionately and respect fundamental rights.

The EPP scrutiny process, which Weber said should be concluded “in the coming days,” could lead to a formal recommendation to suspend or expel the SNS. Any such decision would require approval from the EPP Political Assembly, composed of national delegation heads.

Sources: BETA, BGNES, Euronews, European Greens

Caption: European People’s Party (EPP) Group leader Manfred Weber, speaks as he attends the Spanish People’s Party (PP) Congress in Madrid, Spain, 5 July 2025. The PP party holds its 21st national congress from 04 to 06 July 2025 in Madrid. EPA/FERNANDO VILLAR