2025-04-07
| Brussels

Vučković at JCC Meeting in Brussels: Serbian Citizens Have Shown Commitment to European Values through Protests

EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)

Nataša Vučković, CDF’s Secretary General, participated at the EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meeting held on 7 April 2025 at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in Brussels.

The meeting focused on the current state of Serbia’s EU accession negotiations, the ongoing protests in Serbia, and possible solutions to the country’s political crisis.

Vučković emphasised that the protests in Serbia demonstrate the public’s commitment to European values, including democracy, the rule of law, human rights, accountable institutions, the fight against corruption, the separation of powers, freedom of expression, and media freedom.

“The student protests have shown a remarkable level of social synergy and cohesion. In many ways, the student movement has overcome long-standing generational divides. For those of us in the middle generation, it is encouraging to see the younger generation standing behind our shared struggle for Serbia’s accession to the European Union. Similarly, the urban–rural divide has also been, to a certain extent, bridged through these protests, revealing a strong sense of social cohesion,” said Vučković.

Representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the EU side, together with members of civil society, trade unions, and employers’ associations from Serbia, called for an acceleration of Serbia’s EU accession process.

At this occasion, JCC has adopted a declaration expressing deep concern over the growing political and institutional crisis in Serbia. The declaration issues a strong call for respect for the rule of law, media freedom, and institutional accountability.

Particular attention was given to the student protests that erupted following a tragic event in Novi Sad. The JCC stated it is closely monitoring the developments and fully supports the students’ demands for justice, accountability, and functional institutions.

The Committee strongly condemned any form of violence against peaceful demonstrators and called for urgent investigations, including allegations of the use of sound weapons against citizens.

The declaration also called on the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate potential misuse of EU funds, particularly regarding the reconstruction of the railway station in Novi Sad. Furthermore, the JCC expressed serious concerns about corruption, lack of transparency, and political influence over the judiciary, stressing that Serbia’s progress toward EU membership is contingent on genuine commitment to reforms.

The next JCC meeting is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2025 in Belgrade.

More info: 19th meeting of the EU-Serbia Joint Consultative Committee

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The EU-Serbia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC)

The EU-Serbia Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) is one of the bodies set up under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and Serbia.

The JCC enables civil society organisations (CSOs) from both sides to monitor Serbia's progress towards the European Union, and to adopt recommendations for the attention of the government of Serbia and the EU institutions.

The JCC understands the notion of civil society as encompassing organisations of employers, trade unions and other economic, social and civic interests.