Renew Europe reiterates its call for a full and transparent international investigation of all reported election irregularities and claims of fraud in Serbia’s parliamentary and local elections. 

The joint international observation mission noted the misuse of public resources, the lack of separation between candidates’ official functions and campaign activities, intimidation and pressure on voters, organised voter transportation fraud, ballot-box stuffing and vote-buying. 

Renew Europe initiated a resolution which was adopted during last week’s Plenary session in Strasbourg, calling on the suspension of EU funding to Serbia if the Serbian authorities are unwilling to implement key recommendations from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). 

The EU must suspend funding for the Serbian Government if unwilling to implement key OSCE/ODIHR recommendations!@KGroselj: ”An independent investigation led by international legal experts must be initiated.”

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— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) February 8, 2024

Moreover, the European Commission should start the audit of the funding provided to the Serbian Government under the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance III and other financial instruments. 

Renew Europe also condemns the excessive use of police force during recent protests and calls for the continued monitoring of related legal cases. 

“The elections did not meet all the requirements to be considered free and fair,” said Klemen Grošelj MEP (Gibanje Svoboda, SI), shadow rapporteur on Serbia and head of the European Parliament’s election observation delegation. 

“An independent investigation led by international legal experts must be initiated. If the Serbian authorities do not cooperate or there is evidence of their direct involvement in voter fraud, EU funding must be suspended."