Belgrade | January 16, 2026 – Serbian government officials and representatives of state institutions will receive a delegation of the European Parliament arriving in Belgrade next week, Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić said on Thursday, without specifying who exactly would meet the visiting lawmakers.
Speaking at a press conference following a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Đurić stressed that the level of reception is a sovereign and discretionary decision of Serbia.
“The level at which the delegation will be received is our sovereign, discretionary right as a country,” Đurić said.
Concerns Over Objectivity
Đurić added that Serbian authorities believe some Members of the European Parliament lack an objective approach, but expressed hope that such political views would not overshadow overall cooperation between Serbia and the European Parliament.
The European Parliament delegation is scheduled to visit Belgrade from January 22 to January 24.
Earlier, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and National Assembly Speaker Ana Brnabić stated that they would not meet with the delegation, arguing that the MEPs were arriving in Serbia “uninvited.”
European Parliament Rejects Serbia’s Claims
The European Parliament has rejected claims by Serbian officials that the visit was unannounced, stating that the mission had been planned well in advance and that all relevant Serbian institutions were notified in a timely manner.
President Vučić has publicly said that he “does not wish to see” the European Parliament delegation during its visit.
Mandate of the Delegation
According to EP officials, the mission is based on a European Parliament resolution adopted in October last year, ahead of the anniversary of the Novi Sad canopy collapse, which triggered widespread protests.
The resolution mandates the delegation to assess the state of democracy on the ground, including:
- Ongoing protests
- Attacks on demonstrators
- Repression against students, academics, educators and public-sector employees
Broad Political Representation
The delegation will include representatives from all major political groups in the European Parliament, including:
- European People’s Party
- Social Democrats
- Liberals
- European Conservatives and Reformists
- Greens
- The right-wing nationalist Patriots group
