Interview with … Dragana Đurica – English Version
In our “Nachgefragt bei…” series, European voices regularly share their perspectives in short interviews.
In light of the ongoing protests in Serbia, the tense political situation and the debate on the country’s European course, we spoke with Dragana Đurica, Secretary-General of the European Movement in Serbia and Board Member of the European Movement International, about the current developments in Serbia, the role of the EU and the prospects for the country’s European integration process.
Ms Đurica, Serbia has been experiencing ongoing protests against the government. What are the main reasons behind these demonstrations, and who is driving them?
Dragana Đurica: Protests reflect deep and long-accumulating frustration with erosion of democratic institutions, media capture, corruption, and absence of accountability in public life. Collapse of newly renovated Novi Sad train-station canopy on 1 November 2024 became a breaking point, seen as a microcosm of corrupt system, and galvanized students-led protests that still continue nationwide and are joined by professors, professional associations, citizens, and local communities. Protests transcend party lines; they are not about ideology but about restoring normality, responsibility, and public trust. One tragic event revealed a state-captured system that has concentrated power while weakening democracy, and citizens are no longer willing to accept it.
What role does the European Union play in this situation? Can it have a constructive influence – or would you say that the EU and Germany also bear some responsibility because of their past policies?
Dragana Đurica: EU’s leverage in Serbia is real, but it’s been blunted by years of “stabilocracy” and transactional relations. By accepting declaratory alignment and turning a blind eye to democratic erosion, the EU unfortunately allowed its credibility to fade in Serbia.
We believe that reset is possible, but Brussels and Berlin must now reprice credibility. This means shifting the center of gravity from elite-driven deals to citizens, meritocracy, and tangible reforms and positive changes these reforms bring. Conditionality must again be real, not rhetorical, and linked directly to progress on the rule of law, media freedom, fair elections, and alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy.
Serbia has been an official EU candidate country for more than a decade. What significance does the accession process have in the current context? Given the democratic and rule-of-law shortcomings, wouldn’t it be consistent to freeze the negotiations?
Dragana Đurica: EU accession process is Serbia’s most important framework for reform, modernization, and Europeanization, but its credibility is unfortunately weakened. Real problem is not the process itself, but how it has been hollowed out and turned into a ritual of formalities (and ultimately stagnation), instead of positive changes it is meant to bring.
Freezing it might sound principled, but would be profoundly counterproductive, and would punish citizens rather than those in power. What Serbia needs is not suspension, but reinvigoration: a merit-based, credible process that rewards genuine progress and penalizes regression. Reconnecting enlargement to democratic renewal, and speaking directly and honestly about it to citizens, is the only way to restore faith in both Serbia’s European path and the EU’s transformative promise.
What role does the European Movement in Serbia play in this tense situation? What kind of reactions and feedback do you receive from society and from political actors?
Dragana Đurica: European Movement in Serbia acts as a bridge between citizens and institutions and EU partners and stakeholders, and ideally should do the same between citizens and their own institutions. Yet this second role is increasingly constrained by the authorities’ discrediting and marginalization of civic actors. In a polarized environment, we defend the integrity of the European idea in Serbia and we provide credible information, foster dialogue, and advocate for EU integration . Citizens’ feedback is strongly supportive and they see us as actors where they can talk about Europe without propaganda filters. Political reactions are mixed, but our loyalty remains to principles, not comfort.
How can the European Movement in Serbia concretely contribute to ensuring that European core values such as democracy and the rule of law are respected, and that the country’s European integration gains new momentum?
Dragana Đurica: We combine advocacy, reform proposals, and citizen engagement with our strong intellectual capital, expertise, wide network and energy of youth. Our mission is to make European integration real in the everyday lives of citizens, by turning democratic principles into lived experience, and ensuring that Serbia’s European path is not just declared, but genuinely delivered. We also work with the rest of the Western Balkans, as we are strongly dedicated to regional cooperation and our shared European future.
