EU warns Serbia over crackdown on judges, flags risk of a “significant step back” on accession path

Brussels – Belgrade is again under scrutiny by the European Commission. Today (28 January), the Serbian National Assembly adopted a series of amendments to the judicial system, proposed by the party of authoritarian President Aleksandar Vučić. While the opposition denounces the government’s desire to control the judiciary, Brussels warns the candidate country that these reforms risk being a “significant step backwards” on the path to EU accession. 

The package of amendments was presented by Uglješa Mrdić, a member of Vučić’s Progressive Party (SNS). The measures concern the Law on the Seats and Territories of Courts and Public Prosecutors’ Offices, amendments to the Law on the High Prosecutorial Council, amendments to the Law on the Organization and Competence of State Bodies for the Fight against High-Tech Crime, amendments to the Law on Public Prosecutors’ Offices, as well as judges.

As reported by the Serbian news agency Beta, the laws were passed with 138 votes in favour and 37 against. All amendments proposed by the opposition were rejected.

According to opposition parties, the essence of the changes is to give the government greater control over the judiciary and reduce prosecutors’ power. The majority argues the opposite: “These five judicial laws will strengthen both the prosecution service and the courts, but above all they will reinforce respect for the Constitution and ensure that the part of the prosecution and judiciary that has been alienated and taken over returns under the control of the Republic of Serbia,” Mrdić said. 

The European Commission had already noted Belgrade’s drift away from the accession path in its latest Enlargement Report, published in November 2025. Not only were there setbacks on rights, as evidenced by the harsh repression of student protests that broke out over a year ago, but also “no progress” on the necessary reforms for the functioning of the judiciary. After this new crackdown orchestrated by the party in power since 2012, Brussels is once again raising its voice: the amendments adopted today “could represent a significant step backwards in Serbia’s commitment to its path towards EU accession.” 

This was stated by Enlargement Spokesperson Guillaume Mercier, who added: “These amendments were prepared and adopted in a rushed and non-transparent process, without public consultation with all stakeholders, including the European Commission and the Venice Commission.” This is completely contrary to what Brussels has requested: “Serbia, as a candidate country, is expected to strengthen the independence of the judiciary and the autonomy of its prosecution services in line with the recommendations of the European Commission. Therefore, once our assessment is finalised, we will take the appropriate follow-up action,” Mercier concluded. 

“Paradoxically, on the very same day, Belgrade set up an operational team tasked with coordinating the fulfilment of all the commitments Serbia has undertaken on its EU accession path. Vučić himself stressed that “this is not a farce, but a step forward aimed at accelerating Serbia’s integration into the EU.”