Serbia is moving further away from the European Union (EU), and this has become particularly evident since the end of 2025, when, according to the assessment of the prEUgovor Coalition, even the simulation of reform activities came to an end. At a panel held at the European House during the presentation of the Alarm Report on Cluster 1, participants concluded that laws are being adopted without meaningful public debate, without consultations with relevant institutions, and without genuine alignment with European standards.

Jelena Pejić Nikić from the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), editor of the report and moderator of the panel, stated that Serbia has begun to reverse reforms that had previously been adopted, pointing in particular to the latest judicial laws.

Nemanja Nenadić from Transparency Serbia emphasized that the authorities, under the pretext of accelerating the fulfillment of obligations arising from the European integration process, are adopting regulations without prior analysis and consultations. The panel also addressed electoral conditions, which were assessed as deteriorating despite the recommendations of OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR).

Tanja Ignjatović from the Autonomous Women’s Center assessed that public debates are being concealed from the public and carried out only formally. “The working group for the amendments to the Family Law met only once, and the draft was presented immediately afterward, which indicates that the discussion was not genuine. There was no time for comments to be considered,” Ignjatović stated. She added that although the number of femicides decreased in 2025, it is particularly concerning that the proportion of cases in which violence had previously been reported increased, indicating that institutions are still failing to respond adequately. The report also points to violations of human rights and a decline in the protection of civil liberties. Ignjatović assessed that hate speech in the public sphere is intensifying, particularly in pro-government media outlets, while pressure on people expressing political opinions is becoming increasingly frequent.

Miloš Jovanović from the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy spoke about the third Draft Law on Internal Affairs, assessing that it further entrenches the politicisation of the police and weakens democratic civilian oversight of its work, to the detriment of human rights and freedoms. Jovanović also referred to cases of police brutality, assessing that they most often go unpunished. 

Report of the conference is available HERE