Kos warns Serbia that violence against protesters cannot be tolerated

BRUSSELS – European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos warned on Wednesday that violence against protesters in Serbia must not be tolerated and expects the police to continue ensuring the safety of protesters.

“The right to assembly is a fundamental right that must be respected, and this right must be exercised peacefully and in accordance with the law. Incidents against demonstrators have been recorded, and we expect a full, impartial, and swift investigation,” says Commissioner Kos in an open letter she wrote in response to several letters addressed to her by representatives of the Serbian academic community, politicians, and civil society organizations, expressing concern over the current situation in Serbia.

“Violence must not be tolerated. We expect the Serbian police to continue to ensure the safety of demonstrators. Language that incites violence and a lack of mutual respect cannot be a solution,” warns Kos.

 In Serbia, protests have been ongoing daily for more than three months following the collapse of a shelter at the railway station in Novi Sad, which killed 15 people. The protests are led by students demanding accountability from institutions and a transparent investigation into the accident. They accuse the government of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić of corruption leading to the accident. Protesters have been attacked on several occasions, blaming the attacks on sympathizers of the ruling party.

The Commissioner for Enlargement says that accession to the European Union requires the intensive effort of the whole society, that it “must be a national project owned by all: the government, parliament, opposition, civil society, every region, city, and village, and ultimately every individual citizen in the country.” (February 5, 2025.)