Vice President of Serbia Centre SRCE and Member of Parliament Slobodan Cvejić stated that Serbia is in a very difficult position on its path toward European Union membership, expressing skepticism that the Operational Team for accession can deliver solutions after only two months of work.
Speaking at a session of the parliamentary Committee on European Integration, Cvejić responded to remarks by Operational Team head Danijel Apostolović, noting that references to having “a plan” were repeated multiple times, but warning that such plans risk remaining unimplemented.
“I fear this will remain just that—plans. You said you would oversee and control the work of institutions, but that puts you in a similar position to the electoral roll audit commission, which has extensive powers on paper but limited real impact,” Cvejić said, adding that responsibility will ultimately lie with those in charge regardless of intentions.
He emphasized that progress in the rule of law remains complex, particularly as Serbia continues to face setbacks in this area. Cvejić also warned against presenting the withdrawal or suspension of controversial laws as a success, arguing they should never have been adopted in the first place.
Questioning the government’s optimism, he described expectations of visible progress across all areas in the next EU report as overly ambitious and unrealistic given current conditions.
Cvejić further criticized an idea proposed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, suggesting Serbia could join a European economic area and the Schengen zone without voting rights. According to him, such an arrangement would suit an increasingly autocratic system, allowing access to resources while continuing policies that undermine constitutional rights and democratic governance.
