Brussels is gradually losing patience with Serbia’s authoritarian president, Aleksandar Vučić, following his harsh insults directed at members of the European Parliament from the Green Party, reports the German daily Frankfurter Rundschau (FR).
According to FR, the European Commission has finally acknowledged the growing degradation of democratic norms in Serbia, the largest EU candidate country in the Western Balkans.
Recently, Vučić angrily labeled EU Green lawmakers visiting Serbia as the “worst European scum” and even threatened them with criminal prosecution. This, FR writes, reflects a deeply questionable understanding of democracy.
Marta Kos issues strong response
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos openly rebuked Belgrade’s leadership, writing on X:
“Build an independent judiciary that fights corruption more effectively. Free the media and ensure they can report without restrictions. And finally, carry out electoral reform so that only the will of the citizens decides who holds the majority in parliament.”
FR notes that such direct criticism of Serbia’s authoritarian tendencies has rarely been heard from the European Commission until now. However, Brussels’ patience appears to be fading—especially after Serbia’s closer alignment with Russia and China, highlighted during the recent military parade in Beijing.
Calls for sanctions intensify
The debate over imposing EU sanctions on Serbia’s leadership is growing louder, not only within the European Parliament and the Serbian opposition but even inside the European People’s Party (EPP)—a bloc that historically shielded Vučić’s ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Facing mounting pressure, Vučić admitted it was likely a “mistake” to publicly call EU politicians scum, though he quickly added that his personal opinion of them was “even worse.”
