EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO SERBIA: Suspension of funding possible if “Mrdic’s laws” are adopted!

The spokesperson for the European Commission (EC), Guillaume Mercier, stated today, regarding allegations that Serbia could be denied funding from the European Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, that the Commission always assesses whether the conditions for support through financial instruments have been met.

Stating that the Growth Plan is one of the financial instruments for which certain matters are considered with every disbursement request, Mercier said at a press conference that the EC is concerned about the changes to the set of judicial laws in Serbia and is closely monitoring the next steps.

When asked what Serbia needs to do to avoid the withholding of finances, Mercier said that the EC continues to support Serbia on its path toward the European Union, but expects respect for democratic mechanisms, human rights, and the rule of law.

Mercier said that this also implies respecting the stance of the Venice Commission regarding judicial laws, which is expected soon.

He said that a turnaround is also expected when it comes to Serbia’s regression regarding media freedom.

The Growth Plan for the Western Balkans has allocated about 1.6 billion euros for Serbia from 2024 to 2027.

Brussels sources state that there is officially nothing regarding the cancellation of finances from the Growth Plan for Serbia, but they note that this information, published by the Politico portal, should not be underestimated.

Now it remains to be seen whether the suspension of funding as a topic will just be “noise” or if the European Commission, with the support of the European Parliament, will say that this is an opportunity to stop the payment of money.

The money could depend on the authorities’ attitude toward the changes to judicial laws, adopted at the proposal of Serbian Progressive Party MP Ugljesa Mrdic, as well as toward media freedom in Serbia.

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Reljic: Money from the Growth Plan insignificant

Expert on international relations and EU issues Dusan Reljic assessed in a conversation with journalists from Serbia that the money from the Growth Plan is insignificant and that “Serbia can do without 300 million a year.”

Reljic added that these funds can be compensated from other sources, because money on the world market is generally cheap and that investors, including the Chinese but also others, bring their own money, which in the final sum is no more expensive than that obtained through EU loans.

“It is good to have 300 million, but it is not decisive. It is decisive to get five to six billion a year like Croatia, which significantly jumpstarts economic development,” said Reljic.

A potential decision to cancel funds for Serbia, as he assessed, could politically benefit the authorities because “anyone wins who says – I am defending you from those scoundrels there who are pulling your ears.”

Reljic added that the decision on the money is made by member states, and that among them he does not see enthusiasm when it comes to Serbia, especially among the Baltic countries.

For the first disbursement from the Growth Plan, a net amount of 56.5 million out of the planned approximately 112 million was approved for Serbia, because according to the European Commission’s assessment, it fulfilled fewer reforms than necessary.

Of the 56.5 million, 16.2 are grants, and 40.3 are favorable loans.