Serbian officials debate EU accession amid airline competition concerns and reform demands

The party SRCE alleges that the Serbian government is protecting the national carrier Air Serbia by restricting competition, specifically targeting Wizz Air’s base at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, and warns that such measures could lead to higher ticket prices and fewer connections for passengers.

Historian Milan Protić and activist Pavle Grbović argue that Serbia’s younger generations feel detached from Europe, pointing to frozen EU funds and urging reforms in media legislation, the judiciary, electoral law and university autonomy to revive the EU integration process.

Equality commissioner Milan Antonijević says full EU membership would give Serbia a stronger position to defend national interests and protect Serbs in Kosovo, citing Cyprus as a model. He also cites a survey showing 84% of men hold negative views on gender equality and that 30% of women turn to the church for support after domestic violence.