The European Union on Wednesday urged Serbia to respect fundamental values that lie at the heart of the “common European project” and to reduce tensions.
This response from Brussels followed announcements of a large protest to be held in Belgrade on March 15, where Serbian authorities anticipate the possibility of “violence,” and President Aleksandar Vučić has threatened arrests.
The EU emphasized that the right to assemble is a fundamental right that must be respected.
Additionally, the European Union highlighted the importance of citizen participation in building a democratic and transparent society.
Brussels officials are closely monitoring the political situation in Serbia, as well as the mobilization of students and other groups. They reject Vučić’s accusation that the West is behind a “color revolution” and stressed that disinformation and political rhetoric, including attacks on the EU, are not appropriate on Serbia’s path to European integration.
Serbian students have called for a mass rally on March 15 in Belgrade and have already started heading to the capital from other cities. They have been protesting for four months, demanding accountability for the tragedy that occurred in Novi Sad, where 15 people lost their lives.
The protesters are demanding the publication of documents related to the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station and criminal prosecution of those responsible for the accident.
Serbian authorities claim to have met the students’ demands, but a report from the Senate of the University of Belgrade contradicts this.
