The European Union has called for restraint and respect for fundamental rights in Serbia, as anti-government protests that have continued for nine months escalated into violence in recent days.

EU ambassador to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath met with Serbian National Assembly president Ana Brnabic on August 19 to discuss the deteriorating political climate, electoral and media reforms and recent unrest.

“The EU underlined the need by all parties to uphold the respect for fundamental rights, including the right to peaceful assembly,” the EU Delegation to Serbia said in a statement after the meeting. The ambassador condemned all acts of violence and hate, and urged political actors to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and the spread of disinformation.

Violent clashes between protesters, riot police and pro-government supporters have escalated over the past week. President Aleksandar Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) have faced criticism for allegedly enabling unrest through tacit support for pro-regime violence and disproportionate policing.

Von Beckerath emphasised that any suspicion of excessive use of force must be properly investigated. He also highlighted the importance of protecting journalists and ensuring that police actions remain proportionate and in line with human rights standards.

Dialogue across the political spectrum remains “the only way forward,” the ambassador said, urging all sides to de-escalate tensions and pursue reforms through democratic channels.

Brnabic, for her part, briefed the EU official on Serbia’s progress in the areas of rule of law and European integration. She said that moving forward with EU accession talks — including opening Cluster 3 of negotiations — was a key priority.

In her remarks, Brnabic said the country had seen “daily attacks against police and public institutions, courts and prosecutor’s offices, torching of party offices — primarily those of SNS but also of other parties — destruction of property, and intimidation of journalists and family members of government officials”.

“These actions are a direct assault on the constitutional order, media freedom, and basic citizen security,” she said. “They cannot be reduced to political disagreement or peaceful protest.”

She called on the international community to deliver a “decisive and unambiguous response” to the violence.

The EU has repeatedly stated that Serbia’s accession path depends on meaningful reforms in rule of law, media freedom and democratic governance. Von Beckerath welcomed the recent efforts to reform electoral laws and the selection of the REM media oversight council, while stressing that all processes must be inclusive and transparent.