Nemanja Starović: EU funds are not frozen
Serbian Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović stated today at a session of the relevant parliamentary committee that reports about the freezing of funds for Serbia from the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans are "completely fake news placed in a sensationalist manner."
TL;DR
- Serbian Minister Nemanja Starović denies reports of frozen EU funds for Serbia from the Western Balkans Growth Plan, calling them 'fake news'.
- Disbursements from the Growth Plan are contingent on fulfilling a Reform Agenda, rule of law reforms, and alignment with EU foreign policy.
- Serbia has received 168 million euros through pre-financing and the first tranche, with the second tranche currently being evaluated.
- Opposition lawmaker Slobodan Cvejić criticized the slow legislative process and perceived failures in real-world policy, questioning Serbia's commitment to EU accession.
- Other officials, including Elvira Kovač, also stated that the funds are not frozen but tied to specific reform evaluations.