Defense of Oskar Serbia and Albania have proposed accelerated integration into the EU’s internal market and Schengen Zone, foregoing immediate political membership. This initiative is driven by a desire to regain political control over the judiciary through controversial legal reforms, potentially jeopardizing democratic principles and the rule of law.

These reforms aim to reassert political influence over the prosecution services, particularly those investigating high-tech and organized crime, by altering their status and prosecutor mandates. This has led to the blocking of investigations into politically sensitive cases and a conflict with EU legal cooperation frameworks.

The Serbian government’s actions, including changes to laws governing public prosecution and cooperation with Eurojust, appear to prioritize political expediency over adherence to EU standards and international agreements, risking a direct legal dispute with the EU.

• Serbia and Albania are seeking accelerated integration into the EU’s internal market and Schengen Zone, without full political membership.
• The proposed judicial reforms in Serbia are seen as an attempt to regain political control over the judiciary, particularly prosecutors.
• Changes to the prosecution service, including the status of the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor’s Office and the mandate of organized crime prosecutors, have been implemented.
• The reforms have led to the blocking of investigations into politically sensitive cases, such as ‘Canopy’, ‘Balkan Cartel’, and a large marijuana seizure.
• Serbia’s new provisions for international judicial cooperation, requiring consent from the Ministry of Justice, contradict the 2019 agreement with Eurojust.
• The suspension of the liaison prosecutor to Eurojust has hindered cooperation and jeopardized investigations into around 200 cases, including nine involving ‘high-value targets’.
• The EU has repeatedly called on Serbia to halt and withdraw these controversial laws, but implementation is proceeding rapidly.