The European Parliament will this week debate the Serbian government’s handling of protests in Novi Sad, where thousands of citizens recently took to the streets demanding snap elections and accountability. The demonstrations were triggered by anger over a tragic train station collapse in the city last year that left several dead and injured, a disaster many blame on corruption and mismanagement.
Protesters claim their calls for reform have been met with excessive force, as riot police used tear gas and carried out mass arrests.
Human rights organisations and opposition parties warn that the government’s response signals democratic backsliding and shrinking space for dissent.
For Brussels, the issue cuts deeper than a single protest. Serbia is a candidate country for EU membership, and its treatment of peaceful demonstrators is seen as a key test of democratic standards. The debate in the European Parliament highlights growing unease in the bloc over Belgrade’s trajectory — and whether the country is straying from the values required for eventual accession.
