EU Considers Freezing 1.5 Billion Euros Allocated To Serbia
- 20.04.2026, 21:54
Including because of close ties with the Russian Federation.
The European Commission is currently considering suspending €1.5 billion in funding to Serbia due to rule of law problems and controversial judicial reforms introduced by Belgrade in January, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told EU lawmakers on Monday, Euronews.
Kos said she was particularly concerned about legislative amendments that make major changes, creating an incomplete form of autonomy for Serbia's anti-corruption prosecutor's office and weakening the independence of the judiciary.
"We are increasingly concerned about what is happening in Serbia. From laws undermining the independence of the judiciary to repression of protesters and constant interference with independent media," she told MEPs.
As a candidate country for EU accession since 2012, Serbia has been eligible to receive EU funding to support necessary domestic reforms.
But Serbia's path to the EU has been slowed by its close ties with Russia and President Aleksandar Vucic's crackdown on anti-government and anti-corruption protests that began in December 2024 after a concrete canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad train station, killing 16 people.
Tensions with the EU have increased due to Serbia's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
In May 2025, the European Parliament passed a resolution criticizing Serbia's failure to follow EU foreign policy. While Serbia has condemned the war of aggression, it still refuses to impose sanctions against Moscow.
The European Commission said it was awaiting the Council of Europe's assessment of a judicial law passed in January. The so-called Venice Commission, an organ of the Council of Europe, visited Belgrade on March 16-17 to prepare its opinion.
"We will continue to support Serbia on its path to the EU. But we expect the country's authorities to bring its judicial legislation fully in line with the Venice Commission's recommendations and to restore media independence," Kos said on Monday.
"The Venice Commission will present an urgent opinion in the coming weeks," the Council of Europe said in a press statement issued in mid-March.