Members of the European Parliament have criticized the visit of EU Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner to Serbia, warning that the timing sends the wrong political message.
According to Politico, lawmakers expressed concern that the visit could be used by authorities in Belgrade as a propaganda opportunity, presenting a false image of normalcy despite ongoing political tensions.
During his visit, Brunner is expected to meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and discuss cooperation on migration management between Brussels and Belgrade.
The visit comes just weeks after the European Commission considered the possibility of freezing €1.5 billion in financial assistance to Serbia over controversial judicial reforms and concerns about democratic backsliding.
Croatian MEP Tonino Picula warned that there is a risk the Serbian leadership could use the visit to project an image that “things are proceeding as usual,” which he said does not reflect the current situation.
Similarly, Slovenian MEP Irena Joveva suggested that the visit could be “instrumentalized” as a public relations tool by Serbian authorities.
The report notes that Serbia, an EU candidate country since 2012, is required to implement reforms, strengthen the rule of law, and uphold democratic standards in order to advance toward membership.
Concerns have intensified since 2024, when anti-government protests erupted following a deadly حادث in Novi Sad, leading to repeated clashes between demonstrators and police.
In addition, recent judicial reforms—adopted in January—have drawn criticism from NGOs and EU officials. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos described the changes as a serious step backward and warned that funding for Serbia could be suspended if the laws are not withdrawn.
Co-chair of the European Green Party Vula Tsetsi also voiced concern, citing what she described as a “clear and alarming deterioration” in rule of law, media freedom, and the right to protest in Serbia.
