European Commissioner Marta Kos expressed sharp dissatisfaction with Serbia’s lack of progress on promised reforms, stating during a debate on the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans:
“I’m not satisfied with what I see in Serbia… The new prime minister and the speaker of parliament had promised swift reforms, just as President Vučić promised the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council at the end of March—and nothing has happened.”
This public dialogue, held yesterday in the European Parliament, addressed the implementation of the €6 billion EU financial instrument aimed at supporting Western Balkan countries.
During the session with members of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Budget in Brussels—reported by European Western Balkans—Kos underlined that Serbia had failed to implement any commitments made since December.
Referencing Vučić’s recent visit to Moscow, Kos said she warned him in Belgrade that “May 9, 1945, is not the same as May 9, 2025,” and that such a move would make it very difficult for her, as enlargement commissioner, to advocate for Serbia within EU institutions.
Kos highlighted three major areas of concern:
- Media laws reform,
- Election of a new council for the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM),
- Reform of the electoral legislation, which she said is currently inadequate—not only according to the European Commission but also to the Venice Commission.
“As for Serbia and funds from the Growth Plan, we are now assessing whether or not to allocate them,” Kos declared, adding that it is not entirely clear if Serbia is truly on a European path.
In closing, Kos emphasized a need for concrete action:
“When it comes to Serbia, I would finally like to see deeds—not just hear promises.”
