The European Union is considering the possibility of freezing around €1.5 billion in financial assistance to Serbia due to concerns about the state of the judiciary and Belgrade’s relations with Russia, Politico has reported. Dissatisfaction is growing in Brussels over the pace of reforms and Serbia’s alignment with EU foreign policy.
The European Union is preparing to cut up to €1.5 billion in financial aid to Serbia over concerns about the state of democracy, Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said, according to Politico.
Serbia is facing the possibility of losing up to €1.5 billion from European Commission funds, which is considering suspending payments due to backsliding in democracy and the country’s close ties with Russia.
Although not an EU member, Serbia opened accession negotiations in 2014, allowing it access to funds intended to support reforms. A decision to suspend payments would further complicate the EU enlargement process at a time when countries such as Ukraine and Montenegro are advancing rapidly towards membership, while some states, such as France, are urging caution.
“We are increasingly concerned about developments in Serbia – from laws that undermine judicial independence, to crackdowns on protesters, to repeated interference in the work of independent media,” Kos told Politico.
The European Commission is assessing whether Serbia still meets the conditions for disbursements from European financial instruments. According to several EU officials, pressure has been mounting within the Commission in recent weeks to withhold funds.
The EU has already publicly criticised judicial reforms implemented by the government of President Aleksandar Vučić, whose administration has been accompanied by mass protests.
A serious step backwards for Serbia
Serbia’s ambassador to the EU and chief negotiator, Danijel Apostolović, said he was “confident that a suspension will not occur” and that Serbia remains committed to full EU membership. He added that Belgrade is holding intensive talks with the Commission.
Commissioner Kos warned that the package of laws on the reorganisation of courts and the method of selecting judges and prosecutors represents a “serious step backwards” for Serbia.
The Venice Commission is expected to deliver an expert opinion on the disputed legislative changes by the end of the month, which could serve as a key signal for a potential freeze of funds. Kos stated that she would insist that Serbia align its laws with the body’s recommendations.
According to Apostolović, Serbia has clearly stated that it will comply with the recommendations as soon as they are published.
The EU is Serbia’s largest financial donor, having provided more than €586 million in grants between 2021 and 2024, while an additional €1.5 billion is conditional on the implementation of reforms. According to the Serbian government, more than €7 billion has flowed into the country from EU funds and investments since 2000.
However, Serbia has long balanced between the EU and Russia, simultaneously strengthening ties with Moscow while receiving financial assistance from Brussels.
Sofija Todorović, director of the human rights organisation YIHR, assessed that media freedom and the rule of law in Serbia are “on life support” due to pressure on journalists, and called on the EU to act before a “complete blackout” occurs.
EU patience with Belgrade has further weakened in recent months, particularly after a critical progress report in November warned of backsliding and an “anti-EU narrative” at the highest levels of government.
Vučić’s stance towards the EU
Tensions rose further in December when President Vučić missed the EU-Western Balkans summit, while also criticising the slow pace of accession negotiations.
In a joint article with his Albanian counterpart in February, Vučić stated that Serbia would prefer deeper economic integration with the EU, such as access to the single market and the free movement area, rather than full membership. Kos rejected this idea, emphasising that significant reforms would still be required.
Further criticism followed reports of violence and irregularities in local elections, as well as a police operation at a university that led to clashes between students and police.
“As a candidate country, we expect Serbia to align its foreign policy with ours,” Kos said.
(Vreme, 20.04.2026)
https://vreme.com/vesti/da-li-ce-eu-zamrznuti-15-milijardi-sredstava-namenjenih-za-srbiju/