Serbia: Justice and accountability must prevail

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament condemns the violent response to student protests asking for justice and accountability following the deadly collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station on November 1.

The attacks against protesting students in the same city triggered Prime Minister Miloš Vučević’s resignation, while his government failed to meet some of the students’ demands, including the publication of all the documents about the canopy collapse, which happened soon after the station had been renovated by a Chinese-controlled consortium.

Commenting on the latest developments in Serbia,Valérie Hayer (Renaissance, France) President of Renew Europe Group, said:

“Without protecting the rule of law and without ensuring a truly enabling environment for civil society and media, Serbia's path towards a European future is seriously in danger. Serbian people deserve to live in a country where they feel safe and protected, where their rights are fully respected, in line with our shared European values.”

Renew Europe MEP, Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS, Austria), shadow rapporteur on Serbia, added:

“The wave of violence and persecution unleashed in Serbia against peaceful protesters, especially political opponents and students, is the responsibility of the government. I do not hold my breath that these attacks will be fully investigated, especially when the President himself encourages violence in his statements. A driver ramming a car into a demonstrator or a cowardly attack on students at 3 AM is a good example of this.”