The EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) held its 19th meeting on April 7, 2025, at the EESC headquarters in Brussels. This platform, established within the institutional framework of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Serbia, enables civil society representatives from the EU and Serbia to monitor accession negotiations, discuss topics of mutual interest, and highlight challenges that need to be addressed on Serbia’s path to European Union membership.
On this occasion, the JCC adopted a declaration expressing serious concern over the increasingly pronounced political and institutional crisis in Serbia. The document strongly appeals for respect for the principles of the rule of law, freedom of the media, and the accountability of public institutions.
Special attention was paid to the student protests that erupted following the tragic event in Novi Sad. The JCC emphasized that it is monitoring developments with great attention and provides full support for the students’ demands for justice, accountability, and functional state institutions. The Committee strongly condemned any form of violence against peaceful demonstrators and called for immediate investigations, including those regarding the use of sonic weapons against gathered citizens.
The declaration also issued a call to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to initiate an investigation into potential misuses of European Union funds, particularly concerning the reconstruction of the railway station in Novi Sad. Additionally, the JCC expressed deep concern over the presence of corruption, the lack of transparency, and political influence on the judiciary, emphasizing that Serbia’s progress toward EU membership depends exclusively on genuine commitment to reforms.
Read the full text of the declaration at: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/agenda/our-events/events/19th-meeting-eu-serbia-joint-consultative-committee#downloads