Sandro Gozi, Member of the European Parliament and Secretary General of the European Democratic Party (EDP), has called on the European Commission to respond to reports of serious violence and intimidation during local elections in Serbia.
In a formal parliamentary question submitted to the Commission, Gozi urged a clear and public condemnation of the incidents reported during the March 29 vote, emphasizing that no EU candidate country can credibly advance in the accession process while tolerating violence, pressure, and violations of fundamental freedoms.
Citing reports from independent media and election observers, the EDP stated that election day was marked by attacks on citizens, observers, and journalists, as well as the presence of masked individuals armed with batons near polling stations, particularly in municipalities such as Kula and Bor.
The statement also raised concerns over a police search of the headquarters of the Narodni pokret Srbije (NPS), and the prolonged detention of its leader and other members under conditions described as deeply troubling in terms of potential coercion against opposition figures.
Gozi warned that these developments confirm a continued deterioration in the rule of law and the minimum guarantees required for free, fair, and secure elections in Serbia.
“The violence, intimidation, and pressure reported during these local elections are unacceptable and incompatible with Serbia’s European commitments,” Gozi stated. “At best, the government of Aleksandar Vučić appears unable to guarantee the safety, integrity, and freedom of the electoral process. At worst, it allows—or even encourages—a climate of intimidation, political violence, and impunity.”
In his request, Gozi called on the European Commission to:
- Publicly and unequivocally condemn the reported violence and abuses
- Urge Serbian authorities to conduct an independent, swift, and transparent investigation
- Clarify what concrete consequences these events will have on Serbia’s EU accession assessment, particularly regarding rule of law, democracy, and electoral conditions
He concluded that, in the face of repeated challenges to democratic standards, the European Commission must act decisively and without ambiguity.
“No candidate country can credibly move forward on its EU path while tolerating such a climate,” the statement added, reaffirming the EDP’s commitment to democracy, political pluralism, and the rule of law across Europe.
