European Parliament Member Katlin van Bremt, from the Social Democrats, said today that she will do everything in her power to ensure that next week’s European Parliament resolution strongly condemns the way the Serbian regime has responded to public demonstrations, and that it calls for sanctions against those responsible for undermining democracy and the tragic incident in Novi Sad.
Speaking to FoNet, Van Bremt stressed that nearly a year has passed since the collapse in Novi Sad, which she described not merely as an accident but as a consequence of corruption and authoritarianism within Serbia’s ruling system.
“Since then, many citizens, students, and professors have taken to the streets demanding transparency, justice, and a fight against corruption,” said Van Bremt.
Support for Democratic Serbia and EU Aspirations
Van Bremt emphasized that the European Union wants to see Serbia make genuine progress toward EU membership, but only as a democratic country with free elections and respect for human rights.
She also highlighted the firm stance of European Commissioner Marta Kos, who has openly criticized President Aleksandar Vučić’s government for its harsh reaction to student-led protests.
“There has been a noticeable shift in tone within the European Commission,” Van Bremt noted, adding that she hopes to hear the same firm stance from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to Van Bremt, any leniency shown toward Serbia’s leadership is perceived by its citizens as support for an autocratic regime.
“Serbia is an important country, and we want it to become part of the European Union — but it must rest on the fundamental values of democracy, equality, and solidarity,” she concluded.
