EditEU urged to confront Vučić over Serbia’s democratic backsliding
Serbian student demonstrators were nominated for the EU’s Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought and human rights
The Financial Times took the unusual step to publish a compelling editorial urging the European Union to react the political repression of opponents to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
The FT argues that the EU and Britain have been overly lenient with Vučić, driven by a realpolitik approach to prevent Serbia from aligning with Russia. However, this permissive stance is no longer sustainable.
The EU, according to the FT, must press Vučić to ensure greater accountability and genuinely democratic elections, which are critical for Serbia’s EU membership aspirations. Failure to act risks Serbia following Georgia’s troubling path toward a superficial democracy, where the EU’s influence wanes and its response is limited to ineffectual statements of protest.
The collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad on 1 November, 2024, which killed 16 people, ignited widespread protests. The station, freshly renovated by Chinese firms under the Belt and Road Initiative, became a symbol of corruption, poor governance, and lax oversight that protesters attribute to Vučić’s regime. After nine months of relentless demonstrations, the Serbian government’s failure to address the core issues – chiefly, corruption and the justice system – remains a major concern.
Recent days have seen clashes between protesters and government supporters, with masked individuals vandalizing opposition offices and police cracking down with increasing brutality. The government’s narrative blames “foreign forces” for instigating unrest, a tactic similar to those used in other regional conflicts, including Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan revolution.
Meanwhile, Vučić announced on 17 August that the government would implement “surprising decisions” in response to ongoing protests within the following days, though specifics remain undisclosed. Еarlier he issued stark warnings, claiming that “gangs are ruling the streets, burning and beating,” and that unless the state acts decisively, “nothing will remain of the country or its values.” The Serbian President warned that violence could escalate to the point of street killings, likening the current situation to Germany in the 1930s or terrorist groups like Baader-Meinhof and Red Brigades.
The situation in Serbia and the lack of EU position has also alarmed the Paris-based newspaper Le Monde. The daily warns that this passive approach only emboldens Vučić and deepens Serbia’s democratic crisis. The protests, which include nationalist and pro-Russian slogans, reveal a complex landscape where genuine reformists and nationalist elements intertwine.
The newspaper concludes that genuine negotiations on Serbia’s EU accession are unlikely under Vučić’s leadership, as his government’s actions undermine democratic principles. Ultimately, the EU’s silence risks reinforcing the perception that it tolerates the erosion of democratic norms in Serbia, further marginalizing pro-reform voices.
The Sakharov Prize nomination
In recognition of their bravery, Serbian student protesters involved in the movement have been nominated for the Sakharov Prize, the European Union’s highest accolade for human rights defenders. The nomination was announced by MEP Irena Joveva (Slovenia, Renew), who, alongside MEP Helmut Brandstätter (Austria, Renew), put forward the students for their unwavering stand for democracy, human rights, and rule of law.
The Sakharov Prize nomination underscores the students’ demands for free elections, independent media, and an end to political violence – goals aligned with EU accession criteria.
Joveva and Brandstätter argue that honoring the protesters would signal the EU’s commitment to Serbia’s democratic future while pressuring Belgrade to uphold fundamental rights.
Joveva condemned the violent crackdown against demonstrators, urging the EU to respond decisively. She emphasized that the students embody the values the EU champions and that honoring them with the Sakharov Prize would send a powerful message to the Serbian authorities, signaling that the international community supports democratic principles and will not tolerate further repression. She shared a video showing detained protesters kneeling facing walls, calling on the EU to take action. “No one can ignore this brutality,” Joveva declared, warning that such repression undermines Serbia’s democratic aspirations and moves it further from EU integration.
These actions, they argue, reflect a troubling pattern of government inefficiency and complicity, which is incompatible with Serbia’s EU accession ambitions. The nomination advocates believe that supporting the students’ demands for free elections, independent media, and an end to political violence aligns with EU criteria and would bolster public trust.
Awarding the Sakharov Prize to these protesters would not only recognise their courage but also serve as a decisive signal that the international community will stand against the erosion of democratic values in Serbia. Such recognition could also help rebuild faith in the EU’s commitment to human rights and democratic development.
Sources: Financial Times, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Le Monde
Caption: A protester holds a sign depicting Jesus Christ while facing riot police officers 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
Vučić warns of “bandits ruling the streets” as opposition accuses him of provoking chaos
Updated: August 19, 2025 - 15:40
