Officials of the European Parliament they stayed in Belgrade, but they were not welcomed by the main holders of power - the President of the State and the President of the Assembly. They had other things to do.
President Vucic he stayed in Davos, while she is the president of the National Assembly Ana Brnabic was in Estonia.
However, they met with government and opposition MPs, students, university representatives, non-governmental organizations, media representatives and received, as they say, "worrying reports about repression and pressure".
This was announced by Marta Temido, head of the delegation Of the European Union who was visiting Serbia and requested a transparent investigation with the message that she will "return again" to Serbia.
"We have received disturbing reports of repression, including surveillance. We call for a transparent investigation into all allegations of inappropriate use of force against demonstrators. Freedom of assembly and speech are basic rights that must be respected and the safety of demonstrators and journalists must be ensured," said Temido at the press conference.
The mission, she said, had also received worrying reports.
"We have received worrying complaints about financial, administrative and physical pressures on employees in the academic community and restrictions on media freedom. We will continue to monitor judicial reforms in the Assembly, which are a risk of undermining the independence of the judiciary," she stated.
What was discussed?
The head of the nine-member EU delegation was on her first official visit in the current mandate, as a follow-up mission after the EP resolution for a field assessment of the state of democracy, protests and repression. The report on the visit will be submitted to the competent Committee for Foreign Affairs.
The meetings discussed ODIHR recommendations, the economy, media freedom and the election of REM members, electoral reforms, and freedom of expression.
The further path to the EU depends on Serbia
Temido emphasized that progress in joining the Union depends on "respect for European values".
"The European Parliament remains a firm supporter of Serbia in the European perspective. At the moment, there is momentum for enlargement, but progress in accession depends on respect for EU values," she said, among other things.
As she added, the visit shows that Serbia is a priority. "We care about the citizens of this country. The EP believes that the EU will not be complete without the countries of the Western Balkans. But it is up to Serbia to decide."
Answering a journalist's question about how Serbia with this ruling coalition can go towards the EU because it criticizes and insults the delegation, the head of the mission said that she will return again.
"It is not up to the EU or the EP to elect the governments of other countries. We understand that the agendas are not compatible, sometimes we know that there are mistakes in communication. We felt welcome here and we plan to continue on the European path together, we will come back again," Temido said.
