From guest to outcast: Brnabić’s Brussels setback highlights Serbia’s isolation

Serbia’s National Assembly President Ana Brnabić has been abruptly sidelined from a high-profile Brussels event, after the Brussels-based think tank European Policy Centre (EPC) cancelled her scheduled briefing just days before its opening.

In a move that underscored the deepening chill in EU-Serbia relations, Belgrade responded by announcing its own counter-panel at the Mission of Serbia to the EU, trying to minimise the serback.

The cancellation, formally attributed by EPC to “unforeseen circumstances,” was quickly interpreted as a rebuke to Brnabić’s recent remarks blaming the European Union for allegedly encouraging mass protests in Serbia.

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According to sources cited by BETA news agency, EPC leadership had reviewed her statements and concluded that hosting her would contradict the think tank’s role as a forum for constructive dialogue. Brnabić had been billed as the sole participant in the original event, “Serbia: A strategically important candidate at a critical crossroads,” where she was due to outline reform progress, regional stability efforts and Belgrade’s alignment with EU foreign policy.

The Serbian Mission to the EU reacted within hours, using its official X account (@SRBinEU) to denounce what it called an “unprofessional last-minute cancellation” and “a decision at odds with the spirit of European values, open dialogue and freedom of expression.” The Mission announced it would “gladly use this opportunity to organise an exclusive discussion” at its own premises in Brussels on 12 September, with Brnabić as the main speaker. The replacement panel is scheduled to start at 10:00 and promises to cover “a wide spectrum of issues,” including Serbia’s EU accession negotiations and “the current political situation in the country.”

The optics of a counter-panel organised by the Serbian authorities highlight a broader narrative Belgrade has been pushing – that the EU is attempting to sideline Serbian voices while fuelling unrest at home. For domestic audiences, the shift from EPC to the Mission’s venue allows the government to reframe exclusion as an act of defiance.

Brnabić will nonetheless hold meetings with EU officials during her Brussels visit, including European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and members of the European Commission. Metsola has made clear that her discussions will not be limited to Serbia’s reform process but will also address the sharp rhetoric coming from Belgrade. In an interview with agencies under the European Newsroom (ENR) project, she condemned the insults that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić directed at Members of the European Parliament from the Greens/EFA group, who had joined a protest in Novi Sad on Friday.

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“Serbia must treat the European Parliament and its members with respect,” Metsola said, adding that she had already raised the issue with several EU prime ministers. The European Parliament, she insisted, cannot be dismissed or verbally attacked by a country that aspires to join the Union.

The EPC decision not only diminishes her visibility in the European policy circuit but also signals growing unease in the EU over the Serbian government’s narrative of external interference.

This is not the first time Serbian leaders have clashed with European institutions over rhetoric. Belgrade’s claims that the EU orchestrates or at least condones anti-government protests have been widely rejected in Brussels, yet they continue to serve as a rallying point for the ruling party at home. By portraying critical voices in Serbia as manipulated from abroad, the government seeks to discredit opposition movements while framing itself as the defender of national sovereignty.

The counter-panel underscores the awkwardness of Brnabić’s position rather than strengthening it. What was planned as a prestigious appearance before one of Brussels’ most influential think tanks has been reduced to a closed-door discussion at Serbia’s own diplomatic mission, where the audience and tone will inevitably be more limited. Far from projecting strength, the move highlights Belgrade’s shrinking space in the European policy debate.

For Brnabić, the episode carries an unmistakable sense of embarrassment: the invitation to present Serbia as a “strategically important candidate at a critical crossroads” has been withdrawn, leaving her reliant on her government’s infrastructure to maintain visibility. Instead of engaging openly with European policymakers and analysts, she will be speaking in a setting that risks being perceived as insular and defensive.

Rather than amplifying Serbia’s message, the counter-event risks reinforcing perceptions that Belgrade is increasingly isolated and unwilling to confront uncomfortable questions about democratic standards, rule of law, and its relationship with the EU.

Caption: Serbian National Assembly President Ana Brnabic attends a press conference after a meeting with Latvian Parliament (Saeima) Speaker Daiga Mierina (not pictured) in Riga, Latvia, 18 February 2025. Ana Brnabic is on an official visit to Latvia. EPA/TOMS KALNINS