The European Commission has signaled that future financial support for Serbia under the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans could be conditional on progress in judicial reforms and media freedom.
Speaking on the matter, Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier stated that the EU carefully evaluates whether all required conditions are met before approving any financial disbursements. His comments follow reports that Serbia’s access to funding under the plan may be restricted.
Mercier emphasized that the Growth Plan is a performance-based financial instrument, where each payment request undergoes detailed scrutiny. He noted that the Commission is closely monitoring recent changes to Serbia’s judicial reform package and expressed concern over developments in the sector.
The EU continues to support Serbia’s path toward membership, Mercier added, but expects full adherence to democratic standards, including the rule of law, human rights, and freedom of the media. He also highlighted the importance of the forthcoming opinion from the Venice Commission regarding Serbia’s justice laws.
Under the Growth Plan, Serbia is expected to receive approximately €1.6 billion between 2024 and 2027. However, EU officials in Brussels caution that no formal decision has yet been made to suspend funding, though the issue remains under active consideration.
Any potential move to halt payments would likely require coordination between the European Commission and the European Parliament.
Analysts suggest that while the financial impact on Serbia may be manageable, the political consequences could be more significant. Dušan Reljić noted that Serbia could potentially offset the loss of around €300 million annually through alternative financing sources. However, he warned that a suspension of EU funds could strengthen anti-EU rhetoric within the country.
To date, Serbia has received €56.5 million from an initial tranche of approximately €112 million, after the Commission assessed that reform progress was insufficient. This amount includes €16.2 million in grants and €40.3 million in concessional loans.
