The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, signed a judicial reform that undermines the independence of the judiciary, attracting criticism from the European Commission and the opposition.

The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, signed a controversial judicial reform on Friday, considered by the European Commission as a step back in Serbia's accession process to the European Union. The opposition and professional associations of judges warned that the legislative changes approved by the parliamentary majority of the SNS party strengthen political control over the judiciary, severely affecting democracy. The European Commission has called for a review of these decisions, emphasizing that the reform undermines the independence of the judiciary and was adopted in a non-transparent manner.

Among the most criticized changes is the takeover of the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime under the authority of a prosecutor close to Vucic, which raises questions about its autonomy. Additionally, the reduction in the number of TOK magistrates will slow down investigations, including those related to corruption. Vucic had seven days to sign or reject the amendments.