While the Kremlin and the White House often dominate the headlines regarding Serbian foreign policy, a far more consequential shift is occurring within the halls of the National Assembly in Belgrade. The adoption of the so-called “Mrdić Laws” has become the definitive breaking point in Serbia-EU relations, signaling the formal transition of the Vučić regime from a flawed democracy to a structured autocracy.
For European Union officials, the message is now unavoidable: Uglješa Mrdić, a loyalist deputy of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), has become more influential in dismantling the rule of law than any external geopolitical pressure.
A Strategy of Simulated Democracy
The brilliance—and the cynicism—of the Vučić administration lies in its use of “proxy legislation.” By having high-stakes judicial changes proposed by a private member of parliament like Mrdić, rather than the Government itself, the regime successfully bypassed every democratic safeguard:
- No Ministry Oversight: The laws avoided the rigorous scrutiny of the Ministry of Justice and the Secretariat for Legislation.
- No Public Debate: By utilizing a parliamentary shortcut, the regime silenced civil society and the legal community, presenting the laws as a fait accompli.
- The “Authentic Interpretation” Trap: As noted by former Supreme Court President Vida Petrović Škero, the regime is now using “authentic interpretations” to enforce norms that don’t even exist in the written law, creating a legal labyrinth that is impossible to challenge in court.
The Target: Judicial Independence
The primary objective of the Mrdić Laws is the total subjugation of the prosecution. By allowing for the political reshuffling of prosecutors, the regime has created a “legalized” mechanism to protect its inner circle.
The timing was no accident. The laws were pushed through on the very day that EU Commissioner Marta Kos visited Belgrade—a move interpreted in Brussels as a deliberate act of diplomatic aggression and a “personal humiliation” for EU leadership. It was a signal that the Vučić regime no longer fears the “European path” and is prepared to sacrifice it to maintain impunity for high-level corruption.
EU Considers the Orban Model
Brussels is now weighing the most severe financial retaliation in the history of its relations with Belgrade: the freezing of €1.5 billion from the Growth Plan.
Internal EU discussions have shifted away from the failed “stability” approach. Diplomats are now citing the “Orban Effect”—the idea that financial pressure eventually erodes an autocrat’s power when it affects the daily lives of citizens (the so-called “death by sausages”). For the first time, Brussels is treating the Vučić regime not as a partner, but as a systemic problem.
| Condition for EU Funding | Status in Serbia (April 2026) |
| Independence of Judiciary | Dismantled via Mrdić Laws |
| Media Freedom / REM Council | Non-Existent; Council remains unformed |
| Electoral Integrity | Threatened by Petrašinović’s amendments |
| Cessation of Repression | Failed; Continued violence against student activists |
A Regime of Impunity
The “Mrdić Laws” are the final stone in a fortress of impunity that began with the Savamala ruins a decade ago. From the illegal demolition of city blocks to the opaque redevelopment of the General Staff building, every scandal involving the regime is now protected by a judiciary that is legally obligated to remain silent.
As the European Council prepares its final decision on the funding freeze, the reality for Serbia’s citizens is stark. The regime has traded the country’s European future for the short-term protection of its own criminal assets. The “Mrdić maneuver” has proven that for the Vučić administration, the law is not a set of rules to be followed, but a weapon to be used against anyone who dares to demand accountability.
