EU Suspends Funds For Serbia Over Law Reforms

Critics say the amendments, passed in January, give court presidents greater powers over judges and remove safeguards guaranteeing prosecutors’ independence, raising concerns in the EU. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos gives a press conference following her meeting with Prime Minister of Montenegro in Podgorica, on January 16, 2025. (Photo by SAVO PRELEVIC / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google The European Union has frozen funds earmarked for Serbia under a special aid project for six Balkan countries over controversial judicial reforms, the bloc’s enlargement commissioner has said. The EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans provides six billion euros ($7.06 billion) in funding for 2024–2027 to boost the economies of these countries and accelerate EU integration of the region. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “For the time being, we have stopped all payments from the Growth Plan because it was backsliding in the judiciary,” EU commissioner Marta Kos said late Thursday in Switzerland. “As long as this is not repaired, they will not be able to get European financial support,” she told an event at the University of Fribourg. Her remarks came after Serbia’s parliament passed judicial reforms without consulting prosecutors, judges, the European Union or other expert bodies. Critics say the amendments, passed in January, give court presidents greater powers over judges and remove safeguards guaranteeing prosecutors’ independence, raising concerns in the EU and the Council of Europe. The changes come amid several high-profile corruption investigations targeting senior government and ruling party officials. AFP contacted the European Commission to ask whether a formal decision had been made on the funding pause, but has not received a response. The disbursement of Growth Plan funds are conditional on reforms, including ensuring judicial independence and fighting corruption. Other Topics of Interest Hungary’s Magyar Seeks Breakthrough in Brussels on Blocked EU Billions Hungary’s incoming leader met EU officials in Brussels as he seeks to repair ties and unlock billions in frozen EU funding after years of tensions under Viktor Orbán. Serbia received its first tranche of 56.5 million euros ($66.3 million) in mid-January under the plan, with a total of 1.58 billion euros ($1.85 billion) earmarked for the EU candidate. Kos also criticised curbs on democracy and media freedom. “Serbia is highly polarised today,” she said, referring to the heated political climate after almost a year and a half of anti-corruption protests. “It has been a candidate for more than a decade, and unfortunately, we are seeing backsliding,” she added, also criticising Serbia’s foreign policy. Serbia remains a close Kremlin ally and one of the few European states not to sanction Russia over the war in Ukraine. “You cannot sit on two chairs,” Kos said.