The European Union (EU) has urged Serbia to lower tensions as the country prepares for a large protest scheduled for March 15 in Belgrade. The EU emphasized that fundamental values are central to “our shared European project” and must be respected.
This appeal comes after Serbian authorities warned of potential “major violence” during the protest, with President Aleksandar Vučić announcing arrests for participants.
The EU also highlighted the importance of freedom of assembly as a fundamental right and stressed that citizen participation plays a crucial role in fostering a healthy, democratic society. It further emphasized the promotion of transparency and accountability.
Vučić had previously warned multiple times that the opposition is planning significant violence on March 15, stating that “everyone who participates will be arrested.”
The EU reiterated its call for de-escalation and the creation of conditions for an inclusive dialogue, involving all interested parties, including political actors, institutions, and civil society, to address the necessary reforms for Serbia’s future within the EU.
EU officials confirmed they are closely monitoring the internal political situation in Serbia, particularly the mobilization of students and other groups.
Regarding Vučić’s claims that the West is behind the “colored revolution,” referring to the mobilization of students and citizens, EU officials rejected such disinformation, noting that political rhetoric against the EU and member states has no place on Serbia’s path to EU integration.
Serbia’s students have called for the “largest gathering ever” in Belgrade on March 15, with groups of students already walking from various regions to attend. They have been organizing protests across several cities for the past four months, demanding accountability for the deaths of 15 people in Novi Sad after a concrete shelter collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, 2024.
The students are calling for the publication of all documents related to the station’s reconstruction, accountability for the accident, prosecution of those responsible for attacks on protesters, and the suspension of procedures against those arrested during previous demonstrations.
Serbian authorities claim to have met all the students’ demands, though an expert group formed by the University of Belgrade Senate has disputed these claims in their report.
