European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, expressed concern on Saturday over the escalating situation in Serbia, including the blockade of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). She urged all parties to avoid further escalation of tensions and to seek constructive dialogue.
Kos also voiced her concern over the criminal charges being brought against Vlladan Gjokić, the rector of the University of Belgrade, for allegedly abusing his official position. Kos emphasized the importance of media freedom, noting that public media must serve the public interest and provide space for all legitimate viewpoints.
“Public media have the responsibility to operate in the public’s best interest and ensure space for all legitimate positions,” Kos wrote on X (formerly Twitter). She further expressed hope that the current crisis could be resolved through democratic dialogue.
Serbia’s Path to EU Accession Hinges on Key Reforms
Kos also highlighted that Serbia must intensify its anti-corruption efforts and push forward rule of law reforms, including strengthening media pluralism. A transparent and inclusive process for appointing members to the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) is vital for Serbia’s EU accession process.
“These reforms are crucial for Serbia’s progress on its European path. The EU is ready to support this, and I plan to visit Serbia later this month to discuss it further,” concluded Kos.
Ongoing Blockades by Students in Serbia
Meanwhile, students in Belgrade and Novi Sad have continued their blockade of RTS and Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV) buildings since April 14. The students are protesting what they perceive as biased media coverage of their protests. They demand a new competition for REM Council members, which they believe will bring about more objective reporting.
These protests follow the tragic collapse of a concrete shelter at Novi Sad Railway Station on November 1, 2024, which resulted in 16 deaths. Students are calling for accountability for the incident, the punishment of those responsible for attacks on students, and the drop of charges against arrested demonstrators. Their demands have been supported by education unions, lawyers, university professors, farmers, and other citizens.
Rector of Belgrade University Interrogated
The rector of Belgrade University, Vlladan Gjokić, was questioned on April 18 as part of a preliminary investigation into the abuse of office. Gjokić has supported the students’ demands, including their blockades of university faculties and protests across Serbia.
In response to the ongoing protests, RTS reported that due to the difficult working conditions caused by the blockades, the station has had to adjust its programming schedule. A criminal complaint was filed by RTS against unknown individuals for their role in the blockades, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade has been asked to act on the matter.
