EU Ambassador to Serbia, Andreas von Beckerath, visits the National Convention on the European Union
Belgrade, August 22nd, 2025
At today’s meeting with the new EU Ambassador to Serbia, H.E. Andreas von Beckerath, members of the Program Council of the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) presented the Ambassador with the NCEU’s ongoing activities in monitoring Serbia’s European integration process, particularly in the context of the current political and social crisis.
Members of the NCEU Program Council emphasized that Serbia’s further progress on its path to EU membership is possible only through strengthening institutions, consistent application of the rule of law, and protection of citizens’ fundamental rights, with special focus on freedom of expression and assembly. They also stressed the need to protect the judiciary institutions from political pressure, to improve transparency and accountability of the authorities, and to ensure an enabling environment for the free operating and activities of civil society.
Representatives of the National Convention expressed concern over the deepening crisis in the country and pointed out that the responsibility for both its emergence and its resolution primarily lies with the authorities, who should demonstrate genuine political will and restore citizens’ trust in institutions. The meeting also addressed current challenges and new modalities of communication on the benefits of the European integration process, in order to rebuild citizens’ trust in Serbia’s EU accession path.
EU Ambassador Andreas von Beckerath thanked the members of the National Convention for their dedicated contribution to Serbia’s EU accession process, recalling that a vibrant and independent civil society plays a vital role in the development of a healthy and democratic society. He noted the increasingly difficult circumstances under which civil society organisations operate and underlined that the authorities should ensure an enabling environment for their work. The Ambassador stressed that Serbia’s EU accession process provides the framework to address many of the current challenges, from strengthening the rule of law and safeguarding media freedom to improving electoral conditions and ensuring an enabling environment for civil society. He encouraged the National Convention to continue playing its leading role as a key partner to the EU in advancing Serbia’s accession process.
