The European Union delegation in Serbia said on Tuesday it regretted reports of irregularities, violence, and unequal conditions during local elections held in 10 municipalities on March 29, and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
“We note with concern reports of acts of violence against independent observers, citizens, political party representatives, and media workers,” the delegation said in a statement, urging authorities to ensure swift and transparent investigations.
A spokesperson for the European Commission, Guillaume Mercier, also expressed regret over the reported incidents and said authorities should act to ensure accountability.
Voting took place in Bor, Bajina Basta, Kula, Majdanpek, Kladovo, Arandjelovac, Smederevska Palanka, Lucani, Knjazevac, and Sevojno.
President Aleksandar Vučić said the ruling coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party had won in all 10 municipalities.
However, independent observers and opposition groups reported numerous irregularities, including physical clashes and injuries among citizens, activists, and journalists. Incidents were reported in several locations, including Bor, Bajina Basta, and Kula.
The EU said it had taken note of findings by the observer mission of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the Council of Europe, which reported witnessing violence in nearly all municipalities visited.
Observer teams deployed across seven municipalities visited more than 75 polling stations and reported heated disputes, as well as the presence of large groups of unidentified, sometimes masked individuals near polling sites.
The report also cited irregularities, including breaches of ballot secrecy and cases of voters photographing their ballots.
Despite the concerns, the EU welcomed high voter turnout and active participation, while stressing that it is the state’s duty to protect citizens from violence, ensure conditions for observers to work free from intimidation, and guarantee the safety of journalists.
The delegation said Serbia had made some progress in addressing issues related to voter lists but added that the electoral process still requires “further tangible improvements and reforms”.
It called for an inclusive process involving all stakeholders to fully implement recommendations by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights and the Council of Europe, well ahead of the next national elections.
The EU said it would continue to closely monitor developments related to electoral reforms and future elections, adding that the proper functioning of Serbia’s democratic institutions remains central to its EU accession process.