Tonino Picula, the European Parliament’s Rapporteur for Serbia, has sharply criticized the European Commission’s lenient approach toward the government of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, warning that such tolerance risks further political repression and instability in the country.
Speaking to N1 Television, Picula said the EU’s executive body has been “unfairly soft” on Belgrade for too long, ignoring clear signs of growing autocracy, corruption, and the erosion of democratic institutions in Serbia.
“For years, Brussels has turned a blind eye to the strengthening of autocracy in Serbia and to the collapse of the rule of law and European values. It’s time for the Commission to take off the gloves — or at least one of them — when dealing with Serbia,” Picula said.
He added that Vučić’s government had long benefited from the political cover of certain European leaders, including former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but that this support is “gradually fading.”
Picula expressed hope that the upcoming European Commission progress report on candidate countries will finally adopt a firmer tone toward Serbia, especially after a year marked by mass protests, violent crackdowns, and an increasingly polarized society.
According to the latest EU report, Serbia continues to lag behind in aligning with the bloc’s foreign and security policy, notably refusing to impose sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
The European Parliament’s October resolution on polarization and repression in Serbia also condemned the state-sponsored violence, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests, and explicitly blamed Vučić’s leadership for normalizing authoritarian practices and weakening democratic institutions.
“Repression and violence have become the regime’s main tools against anyone expressing dissent. This unresolved crisis — this undeclared state of emergency — could push Serbia toward serious clashes and even tragedy,” Picula warned.
He also referenced the tragedy in Novi Sad, where 16 people died following the collapse of a railway station canopy, noting that continued state negligence and authoritarian arrogance could result in further loss of life if protests escalate.
Picula further dismissed Vučić’s recent promise of early parliamentary elections, saying there is “no reason to believe such elections would be free or fair,” given that Serbia has failed to meet nearly all of the 25 recommendations from international observers.
“Serbia today is dominated by one party and one man who has little interest in fulfilling his obligations — not to his citizens, nor to the international community, and certainly not to the European Union he claims to aspire to join,” Picula concluded.
