• 2025-06-02

Meeting regarding the future of EU integrations

National Convention on the European Union (NCEU)

The National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) attended the meeting organized by the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, which was also attended by members of the Committee on European Integration and representatives of the international community.

Despite the standing decision of the NCEU’s Program Council to suspend communication with political actors in processes that have lost inclusiveness and transformative potential, we chose to attend this meeting out of concern for the public interest and Serbia’s European future.

Our aim was to once again underscore the critical need for Serbia’s European integration process to move beyond declarative commitment and to be grounded in genuine public inclusion, social dialogue, and real consensus. We find it unacceptable that responsibility for fulfilling European obligations is being shifted onto civil society, as well as the increasingly frequent accusations portraying civil society organizations as obstacles to Serbia’s EU path. Such narratives are a dangerous distortion of the facts, and the ongoing campaigns aimed at discrediting domestic organizations and international partners demand immediate condemnation.

Furthermore, we must clearly state that the conditions for a serious and responsible dialogue on the document presented under the title “Plan for Meeting the Most Important Obligations in the Accession Process by 2026” do not currently exist. This document was not drafted in accordance with the applicable procedures for adopting strategic acts in the Republic of Serbia, it has not undergone public consultation nor review by the Committee on European Integration, and the proposed objectives are unattainable without a clear and measurable reform dynamic, particularly in sensitive areas such as the judiciary, fundamental rights, security, and foreign policy.

We express particular concern over the systematic exclusion of civil society from decision-making processes and the creation of a false appearance of dialogue, intended to project an illusion of inclusiveness and transparency to international partners. Equally alarming are the recent propaganda attacks targeting NCEU member organizations and European Union partners, including nationally broadcast content that aims to stigmatize and discredit them.

The National Convention on the European Union remains open to dialogue, only under clear conditions:

• that Serbia’s full membership in the European Union is unequivocally reaffirmed as the ultimate goal, not merely access to EU funds;
• that civil society is granted meaningful space to participate and influence all phases of the integration process and
• that institutional pressure and the targeting of civil society organizations come to an end.

Unless these fundamental conditions are met, the National Convention on the European Union sees no reason to alter its current mode of engagement in the EU integration process.

National Convention on the European Union

Statement of NKEU read during the meeting at National Assembly