Serbia insists no funding freeze despite EU concerns over judicial backsliding

Serbian Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović said that Serbia does not expect a blockade of EU funds, but rather a continuation of the regular assessment of reform results.

He noted that by the end of May, the adoption of the recommendations of the Venice Commission is planned, along with amendments to electoral laws in line with the recommendations of ODIHR, CE Report quotes FENA.

In a statement to RTS, Starović emphasized that differing interpretations in the public are the result of incomplete information, and that the official statement from Brussels has brought clarification.

"The European Commission very clearly states that there is no talk of any freezing or blocking of financial resources, as could be heard from numerous doomsayers in recent days, primarily here in Belgrade, but rather that there is a continuous assessment of the fulfillment of criteria for the disbursement of financial funds," Starović said.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos had earlier stated that the European Union had suspended payments from the Growth Plan intended for Serbia.

"For now, we have suspended all payments from the Growth Plan because there has been backsliding in the area of the judiciary," Kos said.

The Serbian minister claims that "Serbia remains a champion compared to all partners in the Western Balkans in drawing financial resources from the European Union’s Growth Plan for the Western Balkans."

The Growth Plan, which applies to six Western Balkan countries (Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia), provides €6 billion for the period from 2024 to 2027. The funds are conditional on reforms, particularly those related to judicial independence and the fight against corruption.

Starović also said that, according to research by the Ministry for European Integration, support for EU membership still exists.

"It is quite certain that there is still a clear relative majority within Serbian public opinion in favor of our country’s membership in the European Union. It is logical and understandable that this level of support cannot be the same as it was 20 or 15 years ago. Given that our path to the European Union has lasted a quarter of a century, it is normal that some fatigue with the accession process is evident," the minister said.

In a hypothetical referendum, 47 percent of Serbian citizens would vote “for” EU membership, 35 percent “against,” while 14 percent would not participate, Starović added.

Photo EUROPEAN COUNCIL