The National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), together with youth organizations from the region and across Europe, is issuing an appeal to the European Union institutions to take concrete steps in response to the growing repression, violence, and violations of youth rights in Serbia—through the European Youth Forum, the largest representative body of young people in Europe. 

In a joint statement signed by the national youth councils of  Albania (KRK), Belgium (FJ), Belarus (RADA), Bulgaria (NYF), Croatia (MMH), Catalonia (CNJC), Cyprus (CYC), Moldova (CNTM), Portugal (CNJ), North Macedonia (NYCNM), Malta (KNZ), Slovenia (MSS), Spain (CJE), Ukraine (NYCU), and the Young European Federalists (JEF), it is emphasized that Serbia is entering a dangerous phase of systemic repression targeting its citizens—particularly youth and civil society.

The protests that erupted after the tragedy in Novi Sad—where 16 people lost their lives due to the collapse of the railway station roof—were met with a government response marked by violence, arrests, surveillance of activists, and the targeting of civil society organizations. In March alone, over 1,600 protests were recorded in more than 370 locations, with March 15 seeing the largest protest in Serbia’s history, gathering over 325,000 participants.

The appeal highlights the alarming use of sonic weapons during the protest, a wave of arrests of young activists, illegal surveillance using spyware, and physical violence against demonstrators. Simultaneously, civil society organizations—including KOMS—are facing politically motivated investigations and smear campaigns in the media, while the youth sector is experiencing severe financial and institutional pressure.

Special attention is drawn to the situation of young people in Serbia, who have been at the forefront of the protests, but who also suffer from deep systemic insecurity—78% of youth associate activism with harassment, and nearly half plan to leave the country.

There is growing concern over an increasing number of incidents targeting foreign nationals, including students and youth activists from the region, which further damages international relations and deepens the climate of fear.

KOMS and its partner organizations therefore issue the following appeal to:

1. The President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Council to voice clear and unequivocal political support to Serbia’s youth and students in their demands for rule of law, democracy and respect for human rights.
2. The President of the European Commission, the President of the European Parliament and the President of the European Council to condemn intensifying repression, including but not limited to the March 15 attack on protesters, detention of youth activists and intimidation of civil society organisations, and to call upon the Serbian authorities to promptly cease these actions and take concrete measures preventing their reocurrence.
3. The European Commission to employ all available diplomatic and economic instruments to urge Serbian authorities to promptly fulfil their obligations within the Fundamentals Cluster of the EU accession framework, including judicial independence, freedom of media, anti-corruption measures and the conduct of free and fair elections.
4. The European Commission to deliver and clearly communicate urgent financial and to sustain youth organizations, enabling them to resume essential programs – including through exploring all available flexibility in the Citizens Rights and Values (CERV) and Erasmus+ programmes for the remaining programming period.
5. All EU institutions to ensure increases in funds in the next EU budget cycle to offset losses caused by USAID cuts, including via the Instrument for Pre Accession Assistance (IPA) – with an added focus on involving youth organisations in the IPA – and ensuring full access of independent and democratic youth organisations to all parts of Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps, as well as the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV).

 Serbia has chosen the path to become an EU member. A Serbia that adheres to principles of democracy and rule of law is essential not only for its citizens but also for the stability of the Western Balkans and Europe as a whole. We, the youth of Serbia, call on Europe not to look away—this is your fight too, for the future of a democratic Europe.