Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Green Party, said:  

“Vučić’s regime has entered full-blown autocratic mode: brutal police violence, hundreds of arrests of peaceful protesters and opposition members, and a blatant attempt to avoid elections. The EU has real leverage over Serbia, politically and economically, and must act now. The courageous Serbian people deserve support to secure fair elections and a real path towards integration into the European family.”

Vula Tsetsi, co-chair of the European Green Party, added:

“President Vučić is clinging to power through repression against protesters, opposition, and journalists. Every day, the number of political prisoners grows, as people are locked up simply for speaking out against corruption and oppression. Autocrats have the dangerous habit of banalising and excusing authoritarian practices in the name of so-called ‘stability.’ This must be called out. Vučić’s SNS party remains an Associated Member Party of the European People’s Party (EPP). The EPP must finally take a stand. The EU must press the Serbian regime to back down, respond to citizens’ demands, and organise free and fair elections.”

The European Green Party reiterated its solidarity with Serbia’s Green-Left Front (Zeleno-levi front), which is offering free legal aid to victims of police violence and wrongful detention. The co-president of the Green Left Front, Radomir Lazović, said that "Serbia is ready for change and Vučić's regime is on the path to being political history. The question is how quickly it will go there and at what cost. We all have to join forces to replace him as soon as possible and without casualties."

Background

Serbia has seen nine months of student-led protests, joined by professors, lawyers, and artists, after years of state corruption, negligence, and authoritarianism under Vučić’s rule. Peaceful demonstrators, including minors, have faced baton charges, rubber bullets, mass arrests, and systemic violence. Despite this, protests continue to grow as Serbians demand justice, accountability, and democratic change.

The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom Center called for international action. By mid July it had already documented a total of 95 cases of press freedom violations against 184 journalists and media outlets in the first six months of this year, many of which were perpetrated by state representatives and law enforcement authorities.

The Financial Times last week, and today The Guardian have also called for the EU to use its economic and political pressure to ensure that fair elections are organised in Serbia.

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