Serbia’s Speaker of Parliament, Ana Brnabić, stated today that the European Parliament (EP) special envoy for Serbia, Tonino Picula, inadvertently confirmed Serbian authorities’ claims that the visiting delegation was not formally invited, nor consulted by the EU Delegation in Belgrade.
“President Aleksandar Vučić and I have said that this EP mission to Serbia is uninvited. Picula told TV Nova that it isn’t true they are coming ‘unannounced.’ These are two different things — they weren’t invited but self-notified. President Vučić told the truth,” Brnabić wrote on X.
She criticized the EU Delegation in Serbia for violating diplomatic protocols, showing disregard for Serbian institutions and citizens.
“Picula says the visit was organized by the EU Delegation in Belgrade — fine. But we, the highest representatives of Serbian institutions, were not consulted; we were only informed of their arrival and asked for meetings. They didn’t even ask if the dates were convenient,” Brnabić added.
Brnabić emphasized that rejecting meetings with the MEPs was a way to uphold respect for Serbia’s institutions and basic diplomatic protocol:
“We will not turn our country into a doormat or a colony that anyone can enter at will.”
She also stressed that Serbia will respect only those who respect it in return, noting that Picula does not represent the EP or the EU as a whole.
The EP delegation will be in Belgrade from 22–24 January, but both President Vučić and Speaker Brnabić will not meet with them. The delegation aims to directly assess Serbia’s democratic situation following an EP resolution in 2025, which addressed concerns about democracy, rule of law, and other issues.
