The European Commission stated on Wednesday that it expects Serbia to investigate all complaints regarding irregularities during the elections held on December 17 of last year in a transparent manner.
This was announced by European Commissioner Didier Reynders, who represented the European Commission in the debate on the elections in Serbia held at the European Parliament.
According to him, the examination of irregularities applies to both local sources, in Belgrade as well as in other municipalities.
Reynders stated that he expects Serbia to immediately implement all recommendations of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
“We are ready to support Serbia in implementing these recommendations. We are closely monitoring the protests in Serbia after the elections. Let me emphasize the importance and the right to peaceful demonstrations. At the same time, violence is not a solution and is unacceptable,” he said.
The debate on Serbia was included in the agenda of the plenary session of the European Parliament after a group of political parties requested an extraordinary debate.
The request was made by social democrats, liberals, greens, and leftists.
During the January 17 debate, the submitter of the request, Andreas Schnider, stated that instead of transparency being sought, “the president and prime minister of Serbia criticize international election observers in the harshest and worst manner”.
Among the irregularities in the elections, he mentioned “phantom voters, vote-buying, and biased media reporting”.
The European Parliament had an observation mission for the elections in Serbia, led by European representative Klemen Groshell.
During the debate, he reiterated that irregularities in the electoral process have been confirmed, which, according to him, demonstrate that the country has a serious problem in meeting basic democratic standards and conducting free and fair elections.
European populists have tried to obstruct the debate on Serbia, referring to the non-publication of the final report of international observers.
Extraordinary parliamentary, local, and regional elections were held in Serbia on December 17.
The opposition coalition, “Serbia against violence”, does not accept the results and demands a repetition of the elections, claiming that the ruling party, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), won through electoral theft.
This party and the leaders in power deny the accusations.
Since the elections, part of the opposition has organized nightly protests calling for the annulment of the results.
The elections in Serbia will be again discussed in the European Parliament next week.
The debate will take place in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament on January 23.
After the discussion held on Wednesday, January 17, the European Parliament is expected to adopt a resolution on this issue in a plenary session to be held in February.
