One year after the Novi Sad tragedy – which claimed 16 lives and exposed widespread corruption and cronyism among Serbia’s ruling elite led by autocratic president Aleksandar Vučić – the country has been gripped by mass protests and escalating repression. 

Tomorrow, under the leadership of the S&D Group, the European Parliament will adopt a strong resolution calling for action to support protesters’ demands for justice and democracy, and to hold Vučić’s authoritarian regime to account.

The urgency for EU action has been further underscored by the findings of the Serbian independent investigative committee, presented today in Strasbourg at an event co-hosted by S&D vice-president for enlargement, Kathleen Van Brempt. The committee’s report on responsibility for the Novi Sad tragedy exposes deep-rooted corruption, political interference, and systematic breaches of procurement and construction rules.

Kathleen Van Brempt, S&D vice-president for enlargement, said:

“The local call for transparency has grown into a national movement for democracy, freedom, and justice. Today, we reaffirm our unequivocal support for the people of Serbia. Because Serbia’s future lies in Europe — but it must be a democratic Serbia. 

“With this in mind, we again call on all key EU actors to take a firm stance towards autocratic president Vučić and his elite. For too long, the EU has tried to buy stability in the region by tolerating and appeasing Vučić. When Commission president Ursula von der Leyen stands beside Vučić, smiling for the camera, it makes the Serbian people – who protest on the streets every day – feel utterly abandoned.

“To ensure justice and protect democracy from autocracy, the EU must act. At our request, tomorrow, the European Parliament will call for targeted sanctions against those responsible for serious violations of law and of human rights in Serbia – including those who ordered or carried out violence against peaceful demonstrators. This is about the essence of the European project – protecting people from the abuse of power.” 

Tonino Picula, S&D MEP, European Parliament rapporteur on Serbia and lead negotiator of the resolution, added:

“Serbia is a candidate for EU membership, and the EU is not only a market – it is above all a Union of values. This is the main thread of the resolution, with which the European Parliament supports the people of Serbia demanding justice and democracy because that is exactly what we have always expected from Serbian authorities. 

“Reforms, independent judiciary, media freedom, and freedom in general for the citizens of Serbia are a requirement, not wishful thinking. Unfortunately, the lack of these led to the terrible consequences – the loss of 16 lives. While the Serbian authorities keep repeating that they want to be a part of the EU, with each passing day they are further away from our core values. Progress is made through concrete reforms, not empty promises! 

“We once again reiterate our calls for full and transparent legal proceedings to bring those responsible for the Novi Sad tragedy to justice, and for urgent, impartial, and transparent investigations into all allegations of unnecessary use of force and prohibited weapons, arbitrary arrests and detentions, violence against detainees, politically motivated prosecutions, and other grave human rights abuses. 

“In honouring the memory of the victims of the Novi Sad tragedy, it is crucial to speak out about the corruption in Serbia.”

Notes to editors:

On 1 November 2024, a newly renovated canopy at the Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing 16 people. The renovation was carried out by two Chinese companies, under an agreement between Serbian and Chinese governments, bypassing the Public Procurement Law. The European Commission had already warned in its 2024 progress report on Serbia about the circumvention of procurement rules through such agreements. 

This tragedy triggered unprecedented nationwide protests led by students. Protesters are demanding justice, institutional accountability, transparency, snap elections, electoral integrity, respect for civil liberties, separation of powers, media freedom, an end to the systemic corruption, and investment in education.

Protests have been met with sustained repression, including beatings, arbitrary arrests, tear gas, politically motivated detentions, deportations and mass surveillance. More than 1028 arrests and at least 340 violent incidents have been recorded, some involving serious injuries, while independent observers stress that this figure is not exhaustive. 

Since August 2025, violence has further intensified, including police brutality, torture and sexualised violence against students, threats by special police units, politically motivated prosecutions, smear campaigns by pro-government media, and the deployment of the elite military police unit Cobras in domestic clashes, including firing live ammunition.