The National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) condemns the raid by armed members of the Criminal Police Directorate on the premises of five civil society organizations, including NCEU members, without an appropriate court order. We believe this action, carried out under the orders of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade under the pretext of verifying the spending of USAID funds, is politically motivated with the aim of intimidating and pressuring organizations and individuals who critically oppose the decisions and actions of the authorities.
At a time when citizens across Serbia are taking to the streets demanding the respect of the law and accountability of institutions, such investigations send a message that, instead of seeking to establish a dialogue, the authorities have chosen to intimidate and attempt to suppress critical voices.
We call on the Prosecutor’s Office to immediately clarify the legal basis for this action and provide a clear explanation of the criteria on which these organizations became the subject of the investigation, particularly given that no evidence has been presented to the public indicating that the U.S. authorities requested or initiated this investigation.
We also remind that the National Convention on the European Union (NCEU) has previously spoken out against the public targeting of organizations and individual NCEU members now included in this action.
Selective and politically motivated investigations against civil society represent a serious blow to fundamental civil rights and freedoms, undermine the rule of law, and are entirely contrary to European values, thus questioning Serbia’s further European perspective.
Therefore, we, the undersigned members of the NCEU, stand in solidarity with the organizations Civic Initiatives, CRTA, the Center for Practical Politics, the Trag Foundation, and the Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), and express our full support for their activities aimed at building a better and fairer society based on fundamental European principles.
Members of the National Convention on the European Union:
- Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP)
- Centre for Ecology and Sustainable Development (CEKOR)
- European Policy Centre (CEP)
- International and Security Affairs Centre (ISAC Fund)
- Centre for Sustainable Development of Serbia (CORS)
- Centre for Advanced Economic Studies (CEVES)
- Informatics Association of Serbia (DIS)
- European Movement in Serbia (EMinS)
- Foundation BFPE for a Responsible Society ( (BFPE)
- Centre for Democracy Foundation (FCD)
- Civic Initiatives
- Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER)
- Lawyers’ Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM)
- Network for Rural Development of Serbia (MRRS)
- Transparency Serbia
- Centre for Judicial Research (CEPRIS)
- Academic Initiative “Forum 10”
- Institute for European Affairs
- Centre for Regionalism
- Institute for Corruption Research Kareja
- Smart Kolektiv
- Partners Serbia
- Centre for Applied European Studies (CPES)
- Association for Consumer Protection „Prosperity“ – Novi Sad
- Vanja Savić, Independent Researcher, King’s College London
- Public Policy Research Centre (CENTAR)
- New Social Initiative (NSI)
- Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation
- Advocacy Centre for Democratic Culture (ACDC)
- Union of Organizations Dealing with Protection of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Serbia (USOP)
- Association “Prevent”
- Drug Policy Network South East Europe (DPNSEE)
- Libertarian Club
- Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS)
- Institute for Development and Innovation (IRI)
- Association DUGA
- Centre for Democracy and Development of Southern Serbia
- Nova Naša Reč
- Novi Sad School of Journalism
- Association “People’s Parliament”
- Association “Hrast-Priboj”
- TOC – Association for Sustainable Community Development
- National Centre for Sexual and Reproductive Health – POTENT
- Association “Queer Front”
- Užice Child Rights Centre
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Balkan Studies (CISBalk)
- NGO AKTIV
- NGO Praxis
- Branislav Gulan, Analyst and Publicist, Member of the Scientific Society of Economists of Serbia, Journalists’ Association of Serbia, Writers’ Association of Vojvodina, and Journalists’ Society of Vojvodina
- Nature Conservation Movement of Novi Sad
- Local Democracy Centre LDA, Subotica
- Vojvodina Environmental Movement
- Belgrade Open School (BOŠ)
- Citizens Association for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and All Forms of Gender-Based Violence (ATINA)
- Serbian Healthcare Informatics Association (UIZS)
- Centre of Modern Skills
- Women’s Leadership Academy
- Group 484
- Takovo News
- Victimology Society of Serbia (VDS)
- BIRODI
- Youth with Disabilities Forum
- Association of Judicial Assistants
- Association “Okular”
- Centre for Investigative Journalism of Kruševac (CINK)
- Local Front Valjevo
- Association “UNEKOOP”
- Ecological Movement of Vrbas
- Civic Governance
- Association of Primary Healthcare Managers in Serbia
- SHARE Foundation
- ASTRA – Anti-Trafficking Action
- Committee for Human Rights in Niš (CHRIN)
- Network of Committees for Human Rights in Serbia (CHRIS)
- Autonomous Women’s Centre AWC
- Group for Children and Youth “Indigo”
- Centre for Social Dialogue and Regional Initiatives (CDDRI)
- The Network of Organizations for Children of Serbia (MODS)
- Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia
- Association “Family Support SIDRO”
- Prosecutors Association of Serbia
- Information Security
- National Coalition for Decentralization
- Citizens’ Association “Libero”
- Belgrade Centre for Human Rights
- Centre for the Development of Local Media
- European Cluster Alpe Adria Pannonia, Novi Sad
- Croatian Cultural Centre Petrovaradin
- NGO Nexus
- Union of Employers of Vojvodina
- Organisation for Respect and Care for Animals (ORCA)
- Child Rights Centre
- Centre for Contemporary Politics
- United Branch Trade Unions “Independence”
- Friends of Children of Serbia
- Trade Union of Doctors and Pharmacists of Serbia
- Eco Centre
- YUROM Centre
- Permanent Conference of Roma Associations of Citizens “LIGA ROMA”
- Initiative for the Rights of Persons with Mental Disabilities (MDRI-S)
Source: NCEU
