The European People’s Party (EPP) has recently signaled concerns over the Serbian Progressive Party’s (SNS) membership, raising questions about why the issue is being addressed only now, despite years of collaboration.
Manfred Weber, EPP president, stated during the last visit of Serbian opposition representatives to Brussels that his party is closely monitoring events in Serbia, including violence against protesters and erosion of institutional trust. Weber confirmed that the EPP leadership has initiated discussions on SNS’s membership, which are expected to take place in the coming days.
Political analysts point out that EPP tolerated SNS’s authoritarian practices for years, prioritizing regional influence and strategic alliances over democratic principles. Naim Leo Beširi, director of the Institute for European Affairs, explained that the party now faces internal and external pressure too great to ignore. He added:
“If SNS is expelled, the immediate domestic political consequences in Serbia may be limited, but the symbolic effect would be significant, undermining SNS’s claim to belong to mainstream European politics.”
The potential consequences of EPP distancing itself from SNS include restricted access to Brussels offices, weaker support in the European Parliament, and reduced leverage in international negotiations.
Aris Movsesijan, vice president of the Citizens’ Freedom Movement, emphasized that SNS must decide where it belongs politically. He noted that EPP will not tolerate continued alignment with Russia and China, and that recent cracks in the rule of law and violent clashes during protests have exhausted EPP’s tolerance.
Beširi concluded:
“Gradually, but surely, doors are closing for Vučić, potentially leading to further isolation of his arbitrary regime in Belgrade.”
The EPP’s shift reflects a combination of pragmatism and reputational concern, rather than a sudden moral awakening, signaling that the cost of continued inaction now outweighs the benefits of maintaining ties with SNS.
