**Serbia in Crisis: NGOs Warn EU Institutions**
Four Serbian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have written to European Union institutions, warning them that the country’s government is becoming increasingly authoritarian. This, they say, is deepening Serbia’s already serious political and societal crisis.
The NGOs – the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, Centre for Contemporary Politics, European Movement in Serbia, and Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights – called on the EU to pay more attention to what’s happening in Serbia and “stand up for its own values” before it’s too late.
**Growing Protests and Repression**
Protests in Serbia have been ongoing for four months and are intensifying. The NGOs say that the situation is “extremely dangerous” because of a lack of trust in institutions, a failure to resolve the crisis through politics, and a president who incites violence with his inflammatory language.
In response to the protests, the government and its media have launched a smear campaign against students, accusing them of being puppets for foreign security services and trying to stage a “color revolution” in Serbia. President Aleksandar Vucic has promised to expose alleged foreign funding for the protests and claimed that they are aimed at toppling him from power.
**Repression and Intimidation**
The NGOs say that authorities are using repression and covert methods against protesters, including publishing their personal data, harassing them, and even physically attacking them. Amnesty International has labeled Serbia a “digital prison” after security service agents were caught installing spyware on protesters’ phones.
Foreign nationals, including journalists and youth activists, have been publicly labeled as foreign agents, with their personal data shown on television. The NGOs say that this is part of a campaign to discredit civil society activists who attended conferences in Belgrade, accusing them of being a “security threat”.
**EU’s Response**
The NGOs are critical of the European Commission’s response to the crisis in Serbia. They say that the Commission knows about corruption in Serbia’s construction business but has remained silent as the country’s youth demand accountability for lives lost.
The letter also highlights the Commission’s failure to condemn verbal attacks and smear campaigns against civil society and opposition groups, or threats and intimidation of journalists. The NGOs say that there is a striking difference between the Commission’s accurate analysis and its policy towards Serbia, which has been “particularly astounding”.
**Call to Action**
The four NGOs are calling on the EU institutions to acknowledge the severity of the crisis in Serbia, support demands for reforms, and hold authorities to account. They stress that young people are protesting for a society with transparent and accountable government, respect for fundamental freedoms, and an independent judiciary – values that were once called “European values”.
The NGOs say they will continue to work with other actors to identify the best way forward, but emphasize that the EU can still be an ally in this process if it finally acknowledges the gravity of the situation.