European Parliament Demands Financial Freeze Over Serbian Rule-of-Law

The resolution, which passed with 468 votes in favor, reflects a growing rift between the European Parliament and a government long viewed as a critical Balkan ally. Croatian MEP Tonino Picula, the rapporteur behind the report, leveled sharp criticism at the administration’s track record, pointing to a sharp decline in civil liberties and increasing violence that undermines the path to membership.

While the parliament seeks a harder line, the friction is already rippling through diplomatic channels. On the same day the report was adopted, a coalition of eight member states blocked the opening of a new accession cluster in Brussels. This deadlock leaves Serbia’s integration process in a state of indefinite suspension, as the European Commission faces mounting pressure to leverage its financial support to force a shift in Belgrade’s security and judicial policies.