EC 2025 Progress Report Delivers Harshest Criticism Yet to Serbia Over Rule of Law, Corruption, and Freedoms

European Commission Issues Scathing 2025 Progress Report on Serbia

Brussels, Belgium – The European Commission has released its 2025 Progress Report on Serbia, part of the annual Enlargement Package, delivering a notably harsher assessment of the country's reform efforts and democratic standards. The report highlights significant concerns regarding widespread corruption, a persistent lack of accountability, and a worrying backsliding in freedom of expression. This critical evaluation reflects a new political reality in Serbia, marked by growing societal polarization and mass protests that began in November 2024.

Deep-Seated Corruption and Accountability Deficits

The 2025 report underscores that corruption remains prevalent across many sectors in Serbia and is a serious cause for concern. It points to a perceived lack of accountability and transparency in government infrastructure and construction projects, notably triggered by the canopy collapse at the Novi Sad railway station, which sparked widespread public protests. The Commission notes that a stronger political will to tackle high-level corruption is absent, and the role and mandate of the Prosecutor's Office for Organised Crime are insufficiently regulated. Public perception reinforces these findings; the 2025 Special Eurobarometer on Corruption indicates that 85 percent of respondents in Serbia consider corruption widespread, significantly higher than the EU average of 69 percent. Despite Serbia adopting a national anti-corruption strategy for 2024–2028, its accompanying action plan is deemed narrower in scope and does not comprehensively address recommendations from the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO).

Erosion of Freedom of Expression and Media Independence

Freedom of expression has seen significant backsliding, according to the report. The Commission earmarked numerous problems, including recurrent statements by high-level officials on the work of journalists, the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), and inconsistent implementation of media laws. Political and economic influence on the media, including its editorial policy, and the passive work of the media regulator (REM) are also cited as major issues. Concerns are also raised regarding the safety of journalists, with an alarming rise in violence against them, often perpetrated by state representatives and law enforcement. The report also notes the erosion of academic freedoms and instances of excessive use of force against protestors, with the safety of participants in civic protests not always guaranteed.

Implications for Serbia's EU Accession Path

The critical findings in the 2025 Progress Report highlight a significant slowdown in Serbia's implementation of EU accession-related reforms. The Commission emphasizes that while Serbia has fulfilled technical criteria for opening Cluster 3 (competitiveness and inclusive growth), the overall pace of negotiations remains contingent on tangible progress in rule of law reforms, including judicial independence and media freedom. The report also criticizes the persistent anti-EU rhetoric used by Serbian political leaders and aligned media, which contradicts Serbia's declared strategic goal of EU membership. The EU urges Serbia to demonstrate genuine political will and deliver measurable results in these critical areas to advance its European path.