Homepage - crta.plus

The present situation

On July 8, the European Parliament adopted its annual resolution on Serbia, reaffirming that Serbia's accession path cannot advance without credible democratic reforms. The resolution, adopted with 468 votes in favor, calls for implementation of electoral, judicial, and media reforms, urges that EU financial support be made conditional on democratic progress, and - in stronger language than last year - warns that Serbia's actions pose a broader security concern for the Western Balkans. On the same day, EU member states declined to open Cluster 3 (Competitiveness and Inclusive Growth) in Serbia's accession negotiations, despite the European Commission's recommendation that it be opened.

President Vučić attributed the Cluster 3 decision to the political will of "two or three countries" rather than Serbia's record, and accused Croatia of wanting to see Serbia "on its knees." National Assembly Speaker Brnabić called the EP resolution "shameful," claiming it conditions Serbia's EU path on imposing sanctions against Russia, and said the rapporteur cannot be impartial. Both dismissed the outcomes as politically motivated rather than merit-based.

July

On 14 July 2026, the governing boards of both national public broadcasters lost the numbers needed to function: five RTS board members' mandates expired on 13 July, cutting the board to three of nine, while five RTV members' mandates also expired, leaving that board with fewer than half its seats filled. The boards cannot be replenished because the REM Council - which by law appoints board members and calls the competition to fill their seats - has not been constituted for over a year and a half.

On 12 July 2026, the four independent REM Council members who resigned in December - Dubravka Valić Nedeljković, Ira Prodanov Krajišnik, Mileva Malešić and Rodoljub Šabić - published a letter announcing they would take up their seats, after parliament adopted an authentic interpretation of the media law on 10 July reviving their mandates. They placed responsibility for REM's long non-functioning on the authorities and argued that refusing to serve would let the majority shift the blame onto them.

On 11 July 2026, writer Vladimir Arsenijević, programme director of the Krokodil festival, was attacked in central Belgrade at the site beneath Branko's Bridge where civil society organisations had planned to commemorate the anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. A group of 20 to 30 people insulted, threatened and physically assaulted him and defaced the space. That event, organised by the coalition "People remember people", was cancelled over security concerns, though other public commemorations in Belgrade and Novi Sad went ahead. Arsenijević, who suffered facial injuries, was examined at Belgrade's Emergency Centre.

Key Issue

In numbers

Rotating selection of numerical data drawn from CRTA+ monitoring. Quantitative indicators can often reveal patterns, scale, and change more clearly than narrative descriptions alone, helping to illustrate how political and institutional developments unfold over time. The figures shown here reflect different aspects of CRTA+ monitoring and are updated as new data becomes available.

92%

of airtime for the ruling coalition on TV channels in the 2021-2024 period

pseudo-observer organizations in March 2026 elections, up from 3 in June 2025

minutes - average length of President Vučić's live TV addresses

CRTA.Plus is part of CRTA’s work to document developments related to democracy, the rule of law, and accountability in Serbia.

Key Issues

Slučajevi

Other pages

Slučajevi

The present situation

The RTS governing board is reduced to three of nine members and the RTV board to fewer than half, leaving both public broadcasters without the quorum required for decision-making.

The four independent REM members announced they would take up their seats after parliament’s authentic interpretation revived their mandates.

Writer Vladimir Arsenijević was attacked at the site of a planned Belgrade commemoration for the Srebrenica genocide, forcing its cancellation, while other events proceeded.

Key Issues

Civil Society Resilience

Protests in Serbia

Elections and Voting Integrity

Institutions and Oversight

Media and Information Space

In numbers