The European Union has suspended funds allocated to Serbia from the Growth Plan, after the Serbian parliament adopted judicial reforms without consultations.

The European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, announced that the European Union has frozen funds for Serbia from the Growth Plan, following the adoption of judicial reforms by the Serbian parliament, without consulting prosecutors, judges, or European institutions. Kos emphasized that Serbia, although a candidate for EU membership for over 10 years, has seen a regression in terms of the rule of law, democracy, and press freedom.

The suspension of payments is a reaction to the deterioration of the situation in the justice sector, and the funds, amounting to 6 billion euros for the period 2024-2027, are conditioned on reforms that ensure the independence of the judiciary and combat corruption. Kos stated that Serbia has a future in the EU, but a reversal of the current course is necessary.