- The European Parliament adopted its “toughest” resolution on Serbia to date
On October 22, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Serbia, expressing indignation over the country’s democratic backsliding and setting direct requirements for Belgrade to harmonize its foreign policy, particularly in the context of relations with Russia and China. The resolution was adopted with 457 votes in favor, 103 against, and 72 abstentions.
Members of the European Parliament placed political responsibility for the situation in the country on Serbia’s leadership: the European Parliament “considers the Serbian leadership politically responsible for the escalation of repression, normalization of violence, and the weakening of democratic institutions.”
The resolution condemns “a wave of violence, intimidation, and arbitrary arrests, state-inspired, against peaceful protesters, journalists, civil society organizations, and opposition representatives in Serbia.” In particular, it expresses concern over “the deployment of long-range acoustic devices and the extensive use of tear gas against civilians.”
The resolution includes a direct call to the European Commission “to launch an initiative to introduce targeted individual sanctions against persons responsible for serious violations of the law and human rights in Serbia, in accordance with the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime.”
It condemns the actions of law enforcement officers who protect pro-government gatherings while applying repressive measures against anti-government protesters and the opposition. The European Parliament also condemns the blocking of Pionirski Park in central Belgrade by pro-government activists to prevent protest actions.
The European Parliament demands “a full and transparent judicial proceeding” to hold accountable those responsible for the destruction of the canopy at the Novi Sad railway station on November 1, 2024 (an incident that sparked public outrage and anti-government protests).
A special focus of the resolution concerns Chinese involvement in the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station.
The resolution notes that “China’s presence and influence in Serbia have significantly increased in recent years due to large-scale infrastructure investments, raising concerns about transparency, compliance with EU standards, and environmental norms.” The station project was implemented by two Chinese companies “circumventing regular EU public procurement procedures.” The European Parliament recalled that in March 2025 the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) “initiated an investigation into potential misuse of EU funds allocated for the reconstruction of the Novi Sad railway station.”
The European Parliament clearly linked Serbia’s progress on the EU path to its foreign policy alignment. It “calls for Serbia’s accession negotiations to advance only on the basis of measurable and sustainable progress in the Fundamentals cluster, in particular concerning… full alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and sanctions against Russia.” The European Parliament recalls that Serbia remains a notable exception in the Western Balkans regarding CFSP alignment and emphasizes that compliance with CFSP is a key requirement for all EU candidate countries.
Furthermore, the European Parliament expresses deep concern that the social climate in the country is fueled by “anti-European and pro-Russian propaganda” widely disseminated through government-controlled media and by state officials.
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President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić stated that the European Parliament’s resolution is “expected and logical” and corresponds to the concept of a “color revolution.” He emphasized that during the debate in the European Parliament “it was clear who is sowing hatred against Serbia,” referring to the statements of Croatian MEPs.
He criticized MEPs for lack of seriousness and double standards, citing as an example their condemnation of special-force methods and the politically motivated nature of their criticism. Vučić stated that the authors of the resolution “are not bothered by protests, the occupation of faculties, or obstruction of freedom of movement (road blockages), but by one park” [referring to the pro-government camp in Pionirski Park]. “You see how politically colored this is,” Vučić said. “I understood everything about the seriousness of the MEPs and their responsibility from the fact that they condemned the use of a sound cannon, which never happened. Prove that a sound cannon was used, and I will not be the president of Serbia that same day,” he stated, categorically denying the use of acoustic weapons. He called these accusations “a terrible lie.”
The president regarded the resolution as another attempt to force Belgrade to change its foreign policy. “We haven’t opened a single chapter (in EU accession talks) for three and a half years, and that coincides with the start of the war in Ukraine,” he noted, adding that Serbia “would be the world champion” if it imposed sanctions on Russia.
- Serbia risks an energy crisis due to the sector’s dependence on Russia
A new wave of Western sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector creates serious problems for Serbia. The main risks concern the oil company NIS, potential threats to the Serbian branch of Lukoil, and the supply of Russian gas.
U.S. sanctions against the Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS), introduced on October 9 due to majority Russian ownership by Gazprom, threaten to disrupt the supply of oil and petroleum products. NIS is the only company refining crude oil in Serbia, covering up to 80% of the corporate fuel market.
According to Reuters, the Maran Helios tanker, carrying Kazakh oil destined for NIS, was unable to deliver the cargo due to sanctions restrictions. This creates a risk of halting operations at the Pančevo refinery in the coming days.
Minister of Energy Đorđe Milićević stated that solutions regarding NIS would be sought through discussions with partners — the United States and Russia. Meanwhile, Serbia and Hungary plan to build a new oil pipeline by 2027 connecting Novi Sad with the Hungarian Százhalombatta station, which receives Russian oil from the Druzhba pipeline.
The expansion of U.S. sanctions to Russia’s Lukoil has raised new concerns, as the company operates more than 100 petrol stations in Serbia. Although Lukoil Serbia is not currently on the sanctions list, it may automatically fall under restrictions due to the majority ownership of PJSC Lukoil (Russian Federation).
The company reported that it continues to operate without restrictions, but legal experts are examining the scope and implications of the sanctions. If financial transactions are blocked, difficulties with salary payments and logistics could arise.
Serbia receives about 75% of its natural gas from Russia, primarily through Bulgaria and Hungary. The European Council’s decision envisions a complete halt of Russian gas imports by 2028 and bans new contracts with Moscow from January 1, 2026.
Bulgaria has already announced the termination of short-term transit agreements starting in 2026. Experts predict gas price increases of 15–25% in 2026–2027.
Serbia plans to diversify supplies by increasing imports of Azerbaijani gas through the Serbia–Bulgaria interconnector and using the LNG terminal in Greece.
- Vučić and Minister Mali discussed the energy crisis with Orbán
President Aleksandar Vučić and Minister of Finance Siniša Mali paid a working visit to Hungary, where they met with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
“We discussed the strategic positioning of Serbia and Hungary, a joint response to regional challenges, and ensuring long-term stability in the energy and economic sectors,” Vučić stated.
According to the Serbian president, these are “hard blows” for Serbia — regarding oil, due to sanctions against NIS, and gas, due to the planned ban on Russian gas imports into EU countries. “Europe is raising the curtain before the Russian Federation, and behind that curtain, there will be no one left who can remain neutral,” he declared.
“They will not have anyone who does not want to fully implement their policy. We would prefer a policy of peace — many people today do not want peace. Hungary does. Whether we can achieve it, or whether we are too small, remains to be seen. Are these hard blows for us in terms of oil and gas? I’m just waiting for someone to tell us — you must not breathe this air,” Vučić told journalists in Budapest on October 20 after the meeting with Orbán.
The position of the Council of the European Union that imports of Russian gas into EU countries should be banned from January 1, including transit through the EU to third countries, is a “catastrophic decision” for Serbia, said Finance Minister Siniša Mali. “We receive gas through Bulgaria and Hungary, two EU member states. If they cannot receive Russian gas, what will we do?” he asked.
The Serbian president noted that Serbia will effectively have to build new interconnectors with Romania, North Macedonia, and Hungary. However, even when all this is completed, Belgrade “does not know where to find so much gas if not from Russia,” or how to offset “the fact that we have to pay 30–40 percent higher prices.”
Regarding oil and petroleum products, Vučić reported that the Hungarian oil company MOL would “help” by “importing more petroleum products,” but that importing crude oil is not an option due to sanctions against NIS and its Pančevo refinery.
- Croatia reinstates mandatory military training
The Croatian Parliament adopted amendments to the Defense Act and the Armed Forces Service Act, reinstating compulsory Basic Military Training (Temeljno vojno osposobljavanje) as of January 2026.
The decision to restore compulsory service was made due to significantly altered global security circumstances, as well as the fact that over 17 years (since suspension of mandatory service in 2008), approximately 300,000 people have not undergone any military training.
The program’s main goal is to equip young people with basic military skills necessary in crisis situations, including natural disasters, and to strengthen the reserve forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia, thereby enhancing national defense capacity.
The Basic Military Training will last two months. Men aged 19 (born in 2007) will be called up for service. In exceptional cases, recruits aged 19 to 30 may be drafted. Women are not subject to compulsory service but may join voluntarily.
Approximately 4,000 individuals will be enrolled annually, divided into five groups.
Those drafted will be entitled to a monthly salary (compensation) of about €1,100. For those who declare conscientious objection, an alternative form of civilian service is available.
The annual costs for the Ministry of Defense for mandatory BT are estimated at €23.7 million.
- Croatia adopts a new Defense Strategy
The Government of Croatia adopted the Defense Strategy of the Republic of Croatia and the Long-Term Development Plan of the Armed Forces for 2025–2036. The main mission is defined as the protection of the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia, the promotion of international security, and support for civilian institutions, with an expected increase in defense spending.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić reminded that in 2025 Croatia met NATO’s requirement of allocating at least 2% of GDP to defense. “The government has already set the goal for defense spending to reach at least 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% by 2030,” he added.
Strategic defense goals are defined as building a strong and efficient national defense, maintaining and enhancing Armed Forces’ capabilities for effective deterrence, protecting sovereignty and independence, as well as ensuring territorial integrity of the Republic of Croatia, monitoring and defending the sovereignty of the Republic of Croatia.
The strategy emphasizes effective and coordinated counteraction against hostile forces in the event of armed aggression on Croatian territory through the use of military and non-military instruments of national power within NATO and the EU, contributing to strengthening the capabilities, unity, and relevance of NATO and EU security and defense policy, and participating in building an international order of security, peace, stability, and trust. It also highlights support for civilian institutions in crises and emergencies, strengthening national resilience, investing in research, technological development, and innovation in defense and security, and supporting the growth of the domestic defense industry.
- Croatia and Hungary deepen cooperation in defense and the military industry
Hungarian Minister of Defense Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky visited Croatia. At the meeting in the Croatian Ministry of Defense with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ivan Anušić, they discussed defense cooperation between the two neighboring countries based on EU and NATO membership, the global and regional security situation in South-Eastern Europe.
Talks focused on protecting sovereign state borders, deepening military and security cooperation, expanding defense-industrial relations, and ensuring regional stability.
Minister Anušić recalled the 1990s and expressed gratitude to his Hungarian counterpart: “ I thank Hungary for supporting the Croatian people in the 1990s in their struggle for independence and sovereignty. Hungary was among the countries that extended a helping hand to Croatia, providing humanitarian aid, equipment, and weapons. I thank also the Hungarian community in Croatia, which fought shoulder to shoulder with Croatian defenders,” he said.
“Today, as two independent NATO and EU member states, we are partners, and our goal is to elevate our bilateral defense cooperation to an even higher level,” said the Croatian Defense Minister.
“The relationship between Hungary and Croatia in defense is a stable, forward-looking partnership based on mutual trust that not only strengthens the security of our countries but also serves as a cornerstone of Central European defense,” wrote Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky on social media during the second day of his visit to Croatia.
Croatia and Hungary are currently cooperating within the Multinational Division Command Centre (MND-C) in Székesfehérvár, which they jointly established to enhance regional cooperation among Central European countries, and within the Multinational Special Aviation Programme (MSAP) Training Centre in Zemunik, Croatia. Croatian troops also contribute to NATO’s eastern flank security through their participation in the Forward Land Force Battle Group (FLF BG HUN) in Hungary.
The Hungarian minister praised the participation of Croatian soldiers in the largest military exercise since Hungary’s independence, “Adaptive Hussars 2025.”
The ministers also discussed Hungary’s ongoing air-policing assistance for Croatia, which will end later this year as Croatian Rafale jets take over national airspace patrol duties.
Additionally, ministers expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in the defense industry. Szalay-Bobrovniczky stressed Hungary’s intention to ensure that the Central European defense industry receives an appropriate share of EU funding, thereby reinforcing technological independence and competitiveness in the region. He noted that Hungarian-Croatian cooperation also involves standardizing military equipment and joint development of infrastructure serving military mobility.
He added that in recent years Hungary has paid great attention to developing its defense industry, where Croatia’s experience has proven useful. During his two-day visit, the minister toured several Croatian defense industry facilities: the Orqa company in Osijek, which produces FPV drones, and Čateks in Čakovec, which manufactures specialized military fabrics.
- Ruling VMRO-DPMNE wins local elections in North Macedonia
Local elections held in North Macedonia on October 19 resulted in a sweeping victory for the ruling centre-right VMRO-DPMNE party of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski over its main rival, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), thereby extending its dominance to the local level. The party’s Albanian coalition partner at the central level, the VLEN alliance, also strengthened its position in competition with the other Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI).
According to preliminary data from the State Election Commission, a significant number of mayors were elected already in the first round.
Voter turnout stood at around 47%, slightly lower than in the previous local elections. It was also reported that elections in three municipalities were declared invalid due to turnout below one-third of registered voters.
In the capital Skopje, as well as in most municipalities where no candidate won more than 50% of the vote, a second round will be held.
VMRO-DPMNE leader and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski declared a “triumph of the people,” saying citizens had chosen “direction and values.” He emphasized that this victory marks only the beginning of “a new Macedonian energy” and called on voters to mobilize for the second round to “complete the changes that begun.”
Mickoski expects VMRO-DPMNE and its coalition to secure 59 mayors (out of 80) after the final results.
- The United States and Kosovo demand closure of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK); Serbia and Russia firmly oppose
The UN Security Council session on Kosovo on October 21 turned into a heated debate centered on the future of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK). The United States and Kosovo’s representatives strongly called for the mission’s immediate termination, while Serbia and the Russian Federation categorically opposed any reduction.
Western countries and Kosovo’s delegation stated that UNMIK’s mandate, established in 1999, is outdated and no longer reflects the realities of 2025.
U.S. Ambassador Jeff Bartos sharply criticized the mission, calling it “an inflated peacekeeping mission without peacekeepers,” and urged the Security Council to begin winding it down. “There is no security crisis in Kosovo, and UNMIK no longer plays a role in governing Kosovo. It is time to end the mission,” he said, accusing the UN of “wasteful” spending on frequent “showpiece” meetings.
Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Donika Gervalla-Schwarz fully supported this stance, calling UNMIK “a huge waste of UN money” and urging its closure. She highlighted Kosovo’s economic growth and stability, which, in her words, “is thriving.” Gervalla-Schwarz also sharply criticized Serbia, calling it “a real threat to the region” and “a small Russia in the Balkans.”
The United Kingdom, Slovenia, and Denmark also called for a strategic review of UNMIK’s role, responsibilities, and funding. The UK representative, Jennifer McNaughtan, urged UN member states that have not yet done so to recognize Kosovo’s independence, which she described as “vital for long-term stability.”
In contrast, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Marko Đurić stated that UNMIK is essential for protecting the Serbian community and called for its mandate to be maintained.
Đurić accused Pristina of pursuing a policy of “slow ethnic cleansing” through the systematic destruction of Serb rights. He reported that Pristina had shut down 128 key Serbian public institutions, including healthcare, education, and social services, in Serb-majority areas. He also urged Pristina to fulfill its 12-year-old obligation to establish the Association of Serb Municipalities (ASM).
The Russian Federation categorically opposed any reduction in the frequency of Security Council sessions on Kosovo or cuts to UNMIK’s funding.
Despite deep divisions over the UN Mission, many Council members, including France and EU representatives, stressed that there is no alternative to normalization between Belgrade and Pristina, which remains key to their European integration. Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Milbert Dongjun Shin urged both sides “to avoid actions that could undermine trust.”
Overall, the meeting demonstrated a deep split among Security Council members regarding the assessment of the situation in Kosovo and possible ways forward.
