The European Commission has expressed concern that a new set of judicial laws adopted by Serbia’s National Assembly today could represent a “significant step backward” on Serbia’s path toward European Union membership.
Speaking at a press conference, EU spokesperson Guillaume Merçier said that the Commission will carefully assess the content of the newly adopted laws.
“Allow me to remind that these amendments were prepared and adopted through a rushed and non-transparent process, without public consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including the European Commission and the Venice Commission,” he said.
The EU stressed that candidate countries like Serbia are expected to strengthen judicial independence and ensure the autonomy of prosecutors, in line with prior recommendations from the European Commission.
Controversy in the Serbian Parliament
The laws, proposed by Uglješa Mrdić, a member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), were adopted after opposition amendments were rejected. Pro-government lawmakers argued that the changes would improve efficiency and fairness in judicial proceedings.
Opposition parties countered that the reforms were designed to increase government control over the judiciary and reduce objectivity in public prosecutions.
Mrdić’s proposals included amendments to:
- The Law on Court Seats and Jurisdictions,
- The High Judicial Council Law,
- The Law on State Authorities Combating High-Tech Crime,
- The Public Prosecutor’s Office Law, and
- Laws governing judges.
Procedural Criticism from Serbia’s Constitutional Court
Vladan Petrov, President of the Constitutional Court of Serbia, criticized Mrdić for failing to seek opinions from the High Judicial Council (VSS) and High Prosecutorial Council (VST) on the legislative changes.
Petrov acknowledged Mrdić as a “courageous and outstanding person” but said the oversight represented a procedural mistake:
“Those who stand for law and justice must consider every step. A mistake was made — the proposals should have been submitted to the VST and VSS for their opinions,” he stated on Pink TV.
