The students’ and citizens’ protests in Serbia, triggered by the Novi Sad railway station tragedy on 1 November 2024, represent the most serious challenge thus far to Vučić’s government. They resulted in both mass citizen mobilization and a shift of public opinion, as well as increasingly authoritarian government behaviour. To contain the current political crisis and prevent Serbia’s further slide into autocracy, the EU must adopt a holistic approach that firmly links tangible democratic improvements to progress in EU accession. Brussels should deploy all available instruments to incentivise genuine reforms rather than accept superficial compliance that leaves Serbia’s authoritarian trajectory intact.

Clear, consistent, and credible messaging about the EU’s commitment to Serbia’s democratic future is essential. This includes visible support for the broad spectrum of democratic actors – opposition, civil society, academia and students – who continue to challenge an increasingly oppressive government. Their fragmentation should not be misconstrued as weakness or an absence of reliable partners; rather, it is the result of political conditions shaped in part by years of inconsistent EU engagement. The EU now has a critical opportunity to reset its approach. Seizing this moment is vital for Serbia’s future and firmly in the EU’s strategic interest.