SERBIAN GOVERNMENT ADMITS TO THE EUROPEAN UNION: Students are right, their demands are justified!

“The publication of the instruction that the Government of Serbia sent to our diplomatic consular missions in EU member states, as well as to our mission to the EU, shows that through diplomatic channels, the European Commission asked our authorities to explain what is happening in Serbia. Apparently, they asked for information about why students are protesting and why there is so much expression of public discontent throughout Serbia,” former ambassador Branka Latinović tells Danas.

She also notes that the letter to our DCR followed because someone from the European Commission recognized that the student demands are closely related to the opening of EU chapters, which put the government in resignation in a new problem, so it tried to show that it had solved it.

The government claims in the letter that it has fulfilled all the justified student demands

In the letter sent to the ambassadors, the Government of Serbia claims that it has fulfilled all the student demands and asks that its letter be “further disseminated.” The government admits that the student demands are justified, well-founded and important, according to the text sent by the National Assembly to all Serbian embassies in EU member states.

As stated, this letter was sent “so that it would be distributed as widely as possible – to institutions and parliaments.”

“The fight against corruption, maintaining the rule of law and strengthening institutions are key principles to which we remain fully committed – and that is why we have made it a priority to deal with them and appreciate that the students have brought these topics to the fore. That is why the Government of Serbia has fulfilled all their demands.”

It is also added that in the last three months, student and citizen gatherings have taken place peacefully, without the use of state force, even though they were not officially registered, as prescribed by law.

According to this letter from the Government of Serbia, “the government has made every effort to ensure that, despite not being announced, these gatherings are properly secured, and the safety of all participants is guaranteed. The government has also issued instructions for the police to ensure safety at every gathering.”

It is emphasized that “the Government and state services condemned every incident that endangered the safety of students and citizens during the gatherings. In addition, those responsible were brought to justice, and for the most serious offenses, legal proceedings are underway.”

The text states that despite bringing those responsible for the attacks to justice, “political responsibility” was also demonstrated, and the resignation statement of Prime Minister Miloš Vučević is cited.

“The Prime Minister assumed personal political responsibility and resigned after an incident involving members of his party. As a result, not only were the perpetrators quickly identified and brought to justice, but as a result of the shameful act of violence against students, both the Prime Minister and the Mayor of Novi Sad resigned,” the Serbian Government’s letter states.

FIND OUT MORE:

Through dialogue to peaceful problem solving

It is pointed out that the government has recognized the challenges and is fully committed to addressing them, especially in the context of accelerating and strengthening Serbia’s European integration process.

According to the text, the four key principles, as stated, “which are adhered to by the president, the government and all state institutions are dialogue, peaceful problem solving, accelerated European integration and condemnation of all forms of violence.”

It is emphasized once again that the demands of students and citizens have been recognized and responded to.

It is stated that the criminal investigation was launched the day after the collapse of the Railway Station canopy in Novi Sad – on November 2, 2024. It is mentioned that dozens of people were questioned, including 20 individuals within 24 hours of the tragedy. It is also added that on December 30, 2024, an indictment was filed against 13 people, including the former Minister of Construction, Goran Vesić (who was the only one of them released to defend himself while free).

The corruption investigation was launched on February 2, 2025, in response to criticism that the initial investigation was insufficient, as part of which the geological engineer Zoran Đajić also gave a statement, the text says.

“At the request of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad and the Faculty of Technical Sciences, an expert analysis was conducted which concluded that the canopy was 23.11 tons heavier than originally designed, which probably contributed to its collapse,” it is pointed out.

It is added that it takes time for such complex processes to be investigated and prosecuted in an accurate and fair manner.

Regarding the second student demand and the publication of relevant documentation on the reconstruction of the Railway Station, it is stated that the government has published at least 559 links, containing 13,042 documents, with an additional 925 documents ready for publication.

Some documents are not yet in the possession of the state

“Some documents are not yet in the possession of the state but have been collected. Review before public release also requires time and resources,” the Government’s letter to EU ambassadors states.

When it comes to the third demand and the termination of legal actions against protesters and the release of all detainees, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, on January 29, 2025, pardoned six students, four school principals, a dean, a university professor, and an assistant who were arrested during student protests.

It is also mentioned that the government will increase allocations for state universities by 20 percent, which is the sum of 12.1 billion dinars, over the already planned 60.5 billion. It is stated that this was the fourth student demand.