Sweden announced that it is redirecting part of the aid it granted to the Serbian authorities to civil society in the country, as the government fails to cope with “growing corruption“ and to support the rule of law, Agence France-Presse and local media reported, quoted by BTA.
Serbia marked on Saturday a year since the collapse of the concrete canopy at the train station in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, which claimed the lives of 16 people. The tragedy sparked mass anti-government demonstrations. Protesters believe that the tragedy was caused by corruption and negligence. Their demands for a transparent investigation and criminal responsibility grew into a call for early elections in May. President Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday that he would call early parliamentary elections, but did not commit to a specific date.
The Swedish government said yesterday that “some of the support for state authorities in Serbia will be suspended, and the aid will be directed more towards strengthening civil society“.
Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dusa sharply criticized “growing corruption (and) the lack of respect for the rule of law“ in Serbia.
“Countries cannot expect Swedish support if they do not implement the reforms and development that we expect,“ he said.
The Serbian Foreign Ministry “regretfully learned“ about Sweden's intention.
„Serbia is a sovereign state that implements its reforms in accordance with the constitution, laws and European commitments, but not under pressure, conditions or political labels. "Our country fully respects the right of each country to independently determine its priorities, but at the same time expects assessments of institutional processes to be based on objective and verifiable facts," the Serbian Foreign Ministry said, quoted by the TANJUG news agency.
The ministry notes that Serbia has achieved measurable progress in many areas that affect the lives of citizens, and therefore expects “any assessment of reform efforts to be based on realistic indicators, not on political narratives or media interpretations“.
The months-long demonstrations led by students were mostly peaceful, but clashes broke out in the summer between law enforcement and protesters, who accused the police of brutality and excessive use of force.
The protests in Serbia led to the resignation of the prime minister earlier this year, the fall of his government and the formation of a new one.
Vucic often says that the demonstrators are funded from abroad to stage a coup in the country, while members of his Serbian Progressive Party (SPP) party spread conspiracy theories, claiming that the collapse of the station canopy may have been an organized action, notes Agence France-Presse.
In late October, the European Parliament adopted a resolution supporting “the right of Serbian students and citizens to peaceful protest“, while condemning “state repression“.