Serbia’s path toward European Union membership has encountered another obstacle, as Danijel Apostolović, head of Serbia’s mission to the European Union, warned that the controversial judicial reforms known as the “Mrdić laws” are preventing progress in accession negotiations.
Speaking to Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), Apostolović said that Brussels remains critical of the recently adopted package of judicial laws, stressing that the issue must be resolved quickly if Serbia hopes to move forward in the negotiation process. According to him, the opening of Cluster Three will not return to the agenda until the matter is addressed.
The concerns were also discussed during recent meetings held in Munich by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić with European officials, including António Costa and EU Commissioner Marta Kos. One of the key criticisms from EU representatives, Apostolović explained, relates not only to the content of the reforms but also to the procedure followed during their adoption.
As part of the accession framework, Serbia was expected to seek an opinion from the Venice Commission before adopting the laws and then submit them to the European Commission for final approval. Authorities in Belgrade have now requested an urgent review from the Venice Commission, and officials say they will act in line with its recommendations once the opinion is delivered.
The commission has announced that its urgent assessment of Serbia’s judicial law amendments is expected to be presented at a plenary session in June, a decision that could play a decisive role in determining whether negotiations on Cluster Three can resume.
