On December 1, 2025, the average pensioner received about 50 euros increased pension, when pensions were increased by 12,2 percent. From the budget of the Republic of Serbia, between 280 and 400 million euros went to this increase, and this figure also includes fees for other people's care and assistance.
When you add to that the complex Expa, which, according to the calculations of Finance Minister Sinisa Malog, should cost 1,2 billion euros - approximately the amount of 1,5 billion euros that the European Union could freeze for Serbia will be obtained. The reason is clear - concern over the state of the judiciary and Belgrade's relationship with Russia, Politico reported.
Photo: Rade Prelić / TanjugBOTTOMLESS HOLE: Siniša Mali at the Expo construction site
An important precedent
If it really happens that the European Union denies Serbia this amount due to the decline in the area of democracy and the country's close relations with Russia, it will be a precedent in the relationship between the EU and the progressive regime, but primarily with Aleksandar Vučić. Although the European Commission submitted the harshest report ever on Serbia in 2025, in which it recorded a setback in the areas of democracy, fundamental rights and freedom of the media, there have been no concrete consequences so far.
For years, Brussels applied the measures of denying funds from EU funds to Hungary, which under the rule of Viktor Orbán regressed in terms of democracy, media and other freedoms and passed laws that were not in accordance with the judicial standards of the European Union. In the end, it was one of the key reasons for the convincing victory of Peter Magyar, who promised to return the country to the European path.
The freezing of aid of 1,5 billion euros for Serbia should not be understood as a "punitive measure", a high-ranking official in Brussels told "Vreme". Because it is EU taxpayers' money that is made available to countries that voluntarily opted for European integration and received the status of candidate for EU membership. The government in Serbia, however, has not been fulfilling its commitments for many years, the country instead of progressing on the European path is actually regressing, and the "Mrdić Law" which envisages limiting the independence of prosecutors' offices was "a drop in the bucket" of criticism and dissatisfaction.
The EU is by far Serbia's biggest donor. The aid of 1,5 billion euros was conditional on the implementation of reforms, which did not happen.
Conditional aid
According to the data of the Government of Serbia, since 2000, more than seven billion euros have arrived from EU funds and investments.
However, Serbia has been balancing between the EU and Russia for a long time, strengthening ties with Moscow and Beijing while receiving financial aid from Brussels. The director of the human rights organization YIHR, Sofija Todorović, assessed that media freedom and the rule of law in Serbia are "on the line" due to pressures on journalists and called on the EU to react before "total darkness sets in".
The EU's patience with Belgrade has weakened further in recent months, especially after a critical report on Serbia's progress from November, which warned of regression and an "anti-EU narrative" at the highest levels of government.
Real journalism costs money, and we will not be bought by tycoons and corporations. Support us with a one-time or monthly donation. The time for it is now!
