BRUSSELS – The European Commission published its annual report on Serbia on Friday, covering the period from September 2025 to September 2026. The document, which also references the outcome of the parliamentary elections held at the end of October, identifies regressions in four negotiation chapters – the highest number of setbacks in a single year since Serbia obtained candidate status for EU membership.

The first area of concern is public administration reform. In the first half of 2026 the Serbian government amended its Rules of Procedure, abolishing the mandatory impact‑assessment of regulations and public policies linked to EU integration. The Commission interprets this move as a step backward because the assessment was a key tool for aligning national legislation with EU standards.

Freedom of expression, assessed under Chapter 23 (Justice and Fundamental Rights), also received a negative rating. The report notes a deteriorating environment for journalists and media workers, inconsistent application of media legislation and a continued concentration of media ownership, all of which undermine pluralism and independence.

Chapter 26 (Education and Culture) – temporarily closed by Serbia in the reporting period – is the third chapter where regression was recorded. The Commission cites large‑scale dismissals, disciplinary actions and legal proceedings against teaching staff at all levels, as well as a re‑organisation of educational institutions without inclusive consultation. These measures have delayed the implementation of EU‑funded programmes and strained international cooperation. Similar pressures in the cultural sector – including staff cuts, funding suspensions and opaque allocation of public resources – have affected artistic freedom and the autonomy of cultural institutions.

Finally, Chapter 30 (External Relations) shows a setback due to Serbia’s temporary introduction of new trade restrictions that conflict with the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA), its withdrawal from regional cooperation initiatives, and the continued use of an import‑permit regime that also breaches SAA obligations.

On the overall readiness scale, Serbia’s average score for the 33 negotiation chapters stands at 3.13, a marginal increase of 0.01 points from the previous year’s 3.12. This places Serbia in the “moderate” readiness category and shows virtually no movement over the past several years. The only chapter that received a “good progress” rating is Chapter 18 (Statistics). Serbia achieved “determined progress” in seven chapters, “limited progress” in seventeen, and “no progress” in six – the latter includes Chapter 23 on media freedom. The two chapters marked as “regression” are the ones listed above.

In comparative terms, neighbouring candidates have outpaced Serbia. Montenegro raised its average score from 3.45 to 3.98, while Albania improved from 2.8 to 3.31, overtaking Serbia in the overall ranking. Serbia remains almost level with North Macedonia and ahead of Bosnia‑Herzegovina and Kosovo in the readiness hierarchy.

The Commission’s findings highlight that, despite minor statistical improvements, Serbia’s EU accession trajectory is hampered by policy reversals in critical reform areas. The report calls for swift corrective actions, especially regarding media pluralism, transparent public‑administrative procedures, and compliance with the SAA, if Serbia wishes to sustain its candidacy and close the gap with regional peers.

Sources (learn more):

danas.rs — https://www.danas.rs/vesti/politika/kako-je-evropska-komisija-ocenila-srbiju/