Western Balkans Summit (December 18)

The Society for threatened Peoples (STP) has called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the other EU heads of state and government to use the EU-Western Balkans Summit on December 18 in Brussels to send a clear signal – and not to negotiate with Serbian autocrat Aleksandar Vučić.

“Serbia does not commit to values such as respect for the rule of law, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, human rights, and the protection of minorities – and Vučic is using intimidation tactics to silence journalists, human rights advocates, and protesters. He is denying the genocide of Srebrenica and is trying to prevent a coming to terms with the past,” stated Jasna Causevic, STP expert on genocide prevention and the Responsibility to Protect.

“Olaf Scholz is making a serious mistake by courting Vučić, the anti-European, on the European stage and standing idly by while he tramples civil rights and human rights underfoot and provokes new wars. Vučić should not be allowed to legitimately represent Serbia – which is mired in corruption and cronyism – on the European level,” Causevic criticized.

“It is a positive sign that no political consensus regarding accession negotiations with Serbia was found between the EU member states on Tuesday. The desire to get access to Serbia’s mineral resources cannot justify turning a blind eye to the corrupt and ruthless methods of Serbian government and the country’s authorities. The EU must advocate for a strengthening of democratic structures in the Western Balkans – otherwise, there is a risk that existing conflicts could escalate and new wars could arise in Western Balkans,” Causevic warned. 

“Therefore, it is of great importance that the EU provides support to the Serbian civil society. Independent journalists who covered divisive and nationalist politics in Serbia are now facing threats and persecution. The EU must try to ensure that Serbia’s authorities will immediately take all necessary measures to protect journalists and human rights advocates – allowing them to do their work without fear, pressure, or hindrance,” the STP reminded the participants of the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Brussels.

“At a time when all public universities are occupied by protesting students and professors, when even school pupils are demonstrating, and when citizens across Serbia are demanding that the responsibility for the tragedy in Novi Sad, in which 15 people got killed, must be clarified and that those responsible must be held accountable, it is impossible to speak of any progress regarding Serbia’s possible accession to the European Union. In Serbia, there are blatant violations of the rights to freedom of expression – on a daily basis – and those who dare to criticize the regime are often arrested or persecuted: students, activists, journalists, members of the civil society, opposition politicians, and others,” the STP was informed by Serbian journalist Dinko Gruhonjić. “The people of Serbia deserve support by high-ranking representatives of European countries and the EU. Instead, they are supporting Aleksandar Vučić’s autocratic and repressive regime, which is also the main factor of instability and of Russian influence on the Western Balkans,” emphasized Gruhonjić, who was honored with the Weimar Human Rights Prize 2024 at the beginning of December.

Repression and impunity have a long tradition in Serbia. In their reports, both the EU Council and the European Commission had expressed concerns about the “limited progress” in improving the overall situation regarding freedom of expression and independence of the media. As early as 1998, Aleksandar Vučić – in his position as Minister of Information under Slobodan Milošević – had already implemented laws to suppress freedom of expression and criticism of the brutal oppression of the non-Serb majority in Kosovo. Vučić’s anti-democratic nationalist actions are depriving the younger generation of any chance for a better life and a peaceful future,” Causevic said.

Contact

Jasna Causevic: j.causevic@gfbv.de or +49 551 49906-16

Dinko Gruhonjić: +381 63 583 316