Stop the silence regarding the youth protests in Serbia

Belgrade & Brussels, 07.01.2025

Key Points

• The Serbian government has attempted to crack down on student protesters instead of hearing their legitimate demands, following the loss of fifteen lives and the injury of two people due to systemic corruption;
• President Vučić’s response to the protests puts Serbia at odds with Europe’s core values and threatens the rights of its citizens and its European future;
• JEF Europe and JEF Serbia demand that democratic principles be upheld, the right to protest be respected, and those responsible for the tragedy in Novi Sad face justice;
• European institutions cannot remain silent, Serbia’s youth must be respected and Vučić’s government must be held to account.

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At exactly 11:52 AM, on the 1st of November, a canopy at the recently renovated Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing 15 people and injuring two more. Prior to its opening, the government officials often bragged about the newly constructed station, which has been renovated as a part of the Chinese “One Belt One Road” initiative. In addition to a clear violation of the right to life, during the youth barricades of schools and universities, it was proven by Amnesty International that the Government of Serbia regularly spied on its citizens through their mobile phones, endangering their right to privacy and stoking the narrative of intimidation and fear that has been present for an extensive period of time. 

This all culminated during the “Zastani Srbijo” (“Serbia, stop”) commemorative gatherings with the idea to block traffic for 15 minutes, organised by the students of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts. During that protest, local regime officials attacked peaceful student protesters which sparked country-wide blockades of universities and secondary schools. 

This violence has been prominent ever since at every commemorative gathering that has been organised since the 1st of November, with those accused of instigating violence during the protests were reportedly connected to the regime and placed there to stir unrest. During these protests, secondary school students and their teachers have been particularly targeted for their participation in the protests, especially by prominent pro-regime politicians claiming that “children are the property of the state” and that “high school students do not have a right to protest”. 

“As youth we must stand in solidarity with everyone fighting for the respect of the rule of law, one of the fundamental principles of democracy which we are continuously fighting for in all of Europe. For the past 30 years, Serbia has seen shifts of the political landscape, where youth were excluded and underrepresented. Today, students have organised themselves in plenaries, using the model of direct democracy, opening the space for their participation in the decision making process, which led to the formulation of the demands. The current blockades of most of Serbia’s Universities are the largest student demonstrations in our country’s history and they have organised the largest ever protest in Serbia, gathering over 100.000 people. Following their example, we must stand in solidarity with the students and support them until all of the demands are met.”

– Nenad Bušić, President of JEF Serbia

“Young people in Serbia are wholeheartedly fighting for the fulfillment of essential demands directed at relevant institutions, which now face a critical test: will they meet even the minimum standards of fundamental democratic principles by serving the citizens and ensuring justice, or reveal themselves as entirely captured and operating solely in the interest of the ruling elite?  

Through its action and engagement during this critical juncture, the EU will have the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to supporting Serbia’s path toward a truly democratic society—one where citizens’ rights and freedoms are upheld, and institutions function independently and effectively. Alternatively, its approach could be perceived as an acceptance of the status quo, potentially allowing governance challenges and corruption to persist, with far-reaching and unfortunate consequences for the whole region.”

– Katarina Bogićević, Vice President of JEF Serbia

Furthermore, state-controlled media has played a critical role in distorting the narrative surrounding the protests, framing students as politically motivated agitators rather than citizens demanding justice. By spreading disinformation and refusing to provide adequate coverage of the protests, the regime has stifled public discourse and attempted to delegitimize the movement. Additionally, the arrest of protestors, surveillance of activists, and intimidation of teachers and students demonstrate the regime’s willingness to silence dissent at all costs.

We call on the Government of Serbia to address and fully meet the legitimate demands of the students without further delay. The European Union must acknowledge the deteriorating position of students in Serbia as a symptom of the country’s alarming regression on its democratic path. This backsliding not only threatens the rights and freedoms of Serbian citizens but also undermines the core principles that the EU stands for. Silence is not an option. 

We urge relevant European institutions to move beyond txhe silence and issue non-ambiguous statements condemning these violations, accompanied by concrete measures and actions to prevent further manipulation and erosion of core democratic values in the EU candidate country. The EU’s credibility as a defender of democracy is at stake – inaction is complicity.

 

About JEF Europe

The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) is a political youth NGO advocating for the creation of a democratic European federation as a guarantee for peace, the rule of law and human rights. JEF Europe promotes true European citizenship, works for the widening and deepening of the European Union and strives for a more just and integrated society on the European continent. Established in 1972, the organization has more than 10,000 activists organized in over 300 national, regional and local sections in 37 countries.

 

About JEF Serbia (Forum Mladih)

JEF Serbia (Forum Mladih) is a youth NGO and the section of JEF Europe in Serbia, founded in 2014 as Youth Forum of the European Movement in Serbia, advocating for youth participation and strengthening youth activism, focusing its work on the process of EU integration of the Republic of Serbia. JEF Serbia strives for a democratic society based on European principles and values, representing the positions of young people regarding the European path of Serbia. JEF Serbia promotes solidarity among young people to take a more active role in society in taking the initiatives and strengthening cooperation and mobility at the local, national and international levels.

 

Read more

• YFJ Motion – Condemning youth rights violations and threats to activist safety in Serbia (23/11/2024)
• JEF Resolution – Towards the accession of the Western Balkan countries (13/11/2022)

 

Contact information

JEF Serbia (Forum mladih EPuS/Youth Forum of EMiNS)
Kralja Milana 31, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
E-mail: forumladih@emins.org
Phone: +381 69 36 40 174

Hanna Lein-Mathisen, Executive Board Member
Young European Federalists
Rue d’Arlon 53, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
E-mail: hanna.lein-mathisen@jef.eu