The European Commission said in its 2026 Rule of Law Report that Serbia has made limited progress in rule of law, with concerns intensifying over judicial independence, political pressure on institutions, corruption investigations, media freedom and the functioning of democratic checks and balances.
The Commission said legal amendments in the justice sector removed some safeguards protecting prosecutorial autonomy and judicial independence, complicating the implementation of Serbia’s 2023 constitutional reform. Although subsequent legislative and non-legislative measures addressed a significant part of the recommendations made by the Venice Commission, concerns over prosecutorial autonomy remain.
Political pressure on judges and prosecutors increased significantly, with limited responses from the High Judicial Council, High Prosecutorial Council, government and parliament, the report said. The selection of new judicial council members was completed, but the election process for the High Prosecutorial Council faced delays and procedural difficulties. Serbia also continues to face a significant number of vacant judicial positions.
The Commission raised concerns over the fight against corruption, saying most measures from the previous Anti-Corruption Action Plan were not completed and have largely been transferred to a new plan. It highlighted concerns over obstacles and possible undue influence affecting the Prosecutor’s Office for Organised Crime.
Investigations into the collapse of part of the newly renovated railway station in Novi Sad remain ongoing, while Serbia still lacks a strong record of investigations, indictments and final convictions in high-level corruption cases. Weaknesses remain in monitoring asset declarations, conflicts of interest, whistleblower protection and the enforcement of anti-corruption safeguards in public procurement.
Media freedom also remains a major concern, according to the report. Serbia’s audiovisual sector continues to face problems due to the lack of a fully functioning Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media. Although steps were taken to restore the authority’s decision-making body, concerns remain over editorial independence, public broadcaster pluralism, media ownership transparency and political and economic influence over the sector.
The Commission said journalists face increasing threats and physical attacks, while public authorities frequently fail to provide information requested by media outlets.
The report also criticised the functioning of democratic institutions, saying parliamentary oversight remains weakened by limited political debate and insufficient scrutiny of legislation. Electoral reforms and the audit of the voter register require further implementation.
The Commission noted continued public debate over the exercise of presidential powers, deterioration in public consultation procedures, and ongoing pressure on civil society organisations. Independent institutions responsible for protecting fundamental rights continue to face resource limitations, while government follow-up on their recommendations remains inconsistent.
Source: N1
