European Commission

The EU's executive body. In its annual reports it warns that deals made under intergovernmental agreements bypass public procurement and increase the risk of corruption, and in 2026 it found that political pressure on the judiciary and prosecutors had increased significantly. At the same time, it signed a memorandum on raw materials with Serbia and placed Rio Tinto's “Jadar” project on the EU list of strategic projects.

Affairs

• EXPO 2027 – a special law and contracts without public procurement: It said it expects full compliance with public procurement rules, along with transparency and oversight of EXPO procurement
• The „Jadar“ project and the persecution of locals and activists: It signed a raw materials memorandum with Serbia and listed the “Jadar” project among its strategic projects outside the EU
• Campaign against Ombudsman Saša Janković: Commissioner Hahn stressed full support for the ombudsman's work and respect for independent institutions
• No-tender deals under intergovernmental agreements: For 2024, it said that Serbia bypasses public procurement through agreements; exempted contracts were worth €7.1 billion in 2023.
• SNS supporters attack citizens in Vrbas and Bačka Palanka
• Anti-money laundering administration ran checks on journalists and NGOs: It asked the authorities for the criteria used to compile the list and for more information on the Administration's request
• REM, RTS and state money for the media: In its reports it stated that REM and the public broadcasters are not independent and that media freedom is backsliding
• Pressure on prosecutors and judges, and cases taken away: In 2025 it found that the president and other officials had commented inappropriately on investigations and threatened dismissals

People

• Marta Kos: European Commissioner for Enlargement