The European Union’s Commissioner for Justice, Mike McGrath, has called on Serbia to halt the implementation of recently adopted amendments to judicial laws and to undertake an urgent review of these changes. The request was made during a meeting with Serbia’s Minister of Justice, Nenad Vujić, in Brussels.
A spokesperson for the European Commission, Guillaume Mersier, stated that the amendments represent a serious step back on Serbia’s path toward EU membership and undermine previous commitments to strengthen judicial independence and prosecutorial autonomy. He emphasized that any revisions must follow a transparent and inclusive consultation process, involving the European Commission and the Venice Commission.
Mersier reiterated that the EU deeply regrets that the Serbian president signed the amendments despite opposition from legal experts and warnings from Brussels. “We have clearly expressed that these amendments jeopardize Serbia’s EU integration progress and could reverse achievements made in judicial reform,” he said.
Minister Vujić reportedly traveled secretly to Brussels for the meeting. In a post-meeting statement, Vujić defended the amendments, claiming they contribute to more efficient judicial operations, better protection of citizens’ rights, and improved rule of law. He also noted that Serbia has requested an opinion from the Venice Commission on the legislation.
The set of amendments, proposed by parliamentarian Uglješa Mrdić, has drawn criticism from the legal community and EU officials, who warned that the laws could undermine judicial independence and the country’s EU accession process.
