The European Union has suspended financial assistance to Serbia after accusing the country of taking steps backward in judicial independence and democratic standards, according to Austrian Press Agency. The move has deepened tensions between Brussels and Belgrade at a time when Serbia’s path toward European Union membership is already facing growing uncertainty.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos announced that payments under the EU’s special Growth Plan for the Western Balkans have been temporarily frozen for Serbia. According to Kos, the funds will remain blocked until the Serbian government changes a controversial judicial reform that has alarmed European officials and legal experts.
The disputed reform was approved by Serbia’s parliament in late January through an accelerated procedure, with little public discussion and no meaningful consultation with judges, prosecutors, or European Union representatives. Critics fear the changes could strengthen political influence over the courts by giving court presidents greater authority over judges while weakening safeguards that protect the independence of prosecutors.
Speaking at an event at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, Kos said the European Union could not continue financial support while democratic standards are being weakened. She also pointed to increasing concerns about media freedom and political division within Serbia.
“Serbia today is strongly polarized,” Kos said, referring to the tense political climate and continuing anti-government protests that have spread across the country for nearly a year and a half. Demonstrators have accused the government of corruption, pressure on independent institutions, and restricting critical voices in the media.
Serbia has officially been an EU candidate country for more than ten years, but negotiations over membership have moved slowly. European officials now fear that recent political developments may push the country even further away from European democratic values.
The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans includes six billion euros in support between 2024 and 2027 for six countries in the region. The program aims to strengthen local economies and encourage reforms needed for eventual EU membership. Serbia received an initial payment of 56.5 million euros earlier this year, while a total of 1.58 billion euros had originally been allocated for the country before the suspension was announced.
