The European Commission has called on Serbia to fully implement all recommendations issued by the Venice Commission and to suspend the application of recently adopted judicial laws in the meantime.
In a statement to media, a spokesperson for the Commission said Brussels has taken note of the Venice Commission’s opinion on amendments regulating the judiciary and prosecution, adopted in Serbia at the end of January this year.
The European Commission emphasized that the Venice Commission’s assessment is fully aligned with its own evaluation, reinforcing concerns over the current legal framework.
“We now expect Serbia to implement all recommendations of the Venice Commission as soon as possible. At the same time, a transparent and inclusive consultation process must be ensured, involving all relevant stakeholders, including the European Commission and the Venice Commission,” the statement said.
Serbia has also been urged to suspend the implementation of these legal amendments until the recommendations are addressed.
The Venice Commission published its urgent opinion on April 24 regarding changes to five Serbian laws governing the judiciary and public prosecution. These amendments were adopted by the National Assembly of Serbia on January 28, 2026, following a proposal by MP Uglješa Mrdić.
The opinion was requested by the Speaker of Parliament, Ana Brnabić. In its findings, the Venice Commission outlined seven key recommendations aimed at addressing shortcomings that undermine the independence of the judiciary and the autonomy of the public prosecution.
The urgent opinion is expected to be formally reviewed and confirmed during the Venice Commission’s plenary session scheduled for June 12–13 in Venice.
