President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić,
JEF Europe and Youth Forum of European Movement in Serbia (JEF Serbia), together with all the undersigned, condemns the recent flare-up in violence as well as the arbitrary arrests of protesters and representatives of the press by the Serbian police over the last couple of weeks. Freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and the right to peaceful protest are cornerstones of a democratic Europe and essential human rights that are not negotiable.
We therefore strongly demand from your government to stop the attacks against peaceful protesters, allow freedom of the press, and stop all forms of escalation. Additionally, we demand an immediate end to the smear campaigns against the protesters through defaming them as “terrorists” and “instigators.”
We call on your government to release all protesters falsely arrested, cease the violence, and start taking their legitimate demands seriously.
As a reflection on this statement, JEF network leaders shared the following comments:
Katarina Bogićević, President of JEF Serbia / Youth Forum of the European Movement in Serbia: “The EU is not merely a union of interests — it is, or should be, a value-based community. Serbia is not a distant periphery; it is a candidate country whose future lies at the very heart of Europe’s commitment to its principles. After a decade of corruption, negligence, and cover-ups, citizens know this authoritarian government cannot be trusted. Instead of responsibility, it offers fear. Instead of answers, it delivers propaganda. Instead of justice, it unleashes riot police and hired hooligans against the very citizens it claims to protect. After a decade, the EU, too, should have learned that such a government cannot be trusted. In line with this lesson, the EU must act decisively and seek new partners within the broad civic movement, which continues to uphold so-called European values with a consistency that the EU, at times, has struggled to demonstrate.”
Reinis Giļs, Executive Board member of JEF Europe: “The youth of Serbia deserve to be heard—not threatened, beaten down, or imprisoned by their own government. As a country aspiring to join the European Union, Serbia must uphold the Union’s core values: the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. As JEF, we stand with the voices in Serbia calling for change, a European future, and an end to state oppression.”
Christelle Savall, President of JEF Europe: “Serbia’s future is in the EU. But for this to become reality, the Vučić government must end its relentless crackdown on peaceful young protesters who are calling for free and fair elections. These voices need the support and attention of all of Europe. The EU must step up and stand with this movement toward Serbia’s European future.”
The Youth Forum of the European Movement in Serbia (JEF Serbia) is a full member of the international umbrella organization JEF Europe, which advocates for European integration, federalism, democratic governance, rule of law, human rights, youth participation, and sustainable development.
Signed by:
• Reinis Giļs, Executive Board member, Young European Federalists Europe
• Katarina Bogicevic, President, Youth Forum of the European Movement in Serbia (JEF Serbia)
• Christelle Savall, President, Young European Federalists Europe
• Gergana Blazheva, Jana Gleim, Robin R. Mudry, Presidium of the Federal Committee, Young European Federalists Europe
• Anna van de Moosdijk, Benedetta Veneruso, Members of the Federal Committee, Young European Federalists Europe
• Daniela Vancic, EU Policy and Advocacy Lead, Democracy International
• Executive Board, OBESSU
• Patrizia Heidegge, Deputy Secretary General, European Environmental Bureau
• Mikael Leyi, Secretary General, SOLIDAR
• Mihajlo Samardžić, Senior Vice President, Europeisk Ungdom (JEF Norway)
• Lovro Klinar, President, JEF Slovenia
• Alfred Quantrill, President, Young European Movement UK
• Emelie Björk, President, JEF Sweden
• Joosep A. Laats, Communications Manager, JEF Estonia
• Moritz Hergl, Vice-President, JEF Germany
• Finn Jasper Gleichmann, President, JEF Nederland
• Sara Bertolli, President, JEF Italy
• Martin Procházka, President, JEF Rotterdam-Den Haag
• Brunilda Brati, President, JEF Albania
• Tiberia Cercea, Co-President, JEF România
• Melanie Thut, President, JEF Germany
• Konstantine Gagnidze, President, JEF Georgia
• Abdullah Siddiqui, Secretary General, JEF Estonia
• Dimitar Uzunov, International Secretary, JEF Bulgaria
• Paola Zamboni, International Officer, Jeunes Européens France
• Debora Striani, National Board Member, JEF Italy
• Markus Seunig, President, wEUnite (Austria)
