AGP Executive Report

Snap Election Watch: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić dissolved parliament and called snap elections for October 25, a move seen as aimed at tightening control amid months of protests. EU Accession Pressure: Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said after Ratko Mladić’s state-honors funeral, the EU must assess whether Serbia is still truly on its European path, with a key EU report due end of September. War-Crime Funeral Fallout: Mladić’s burial with military honors continues to spark sharp EU and regional backlash and fresh political debate inside Serbia. Sports & Integrity: Caretaker PM Đuro Macut opened a WADA Executive Committee meeting in Belgrade, stressing anti-doping credibility and fair play. Belgrade Culture: Dragana Crnjak’s “Forest” exhibition opens at the Medici Museum of Art in the US, highlighting Serbian talent abroad. Business & Media: Telekom Srbija pitches itself as a regional content production powerhouse, aiming to export Serbian creative output. Climate Context: Reports highlight August 2026 as the hottest month on record, adding pressure to water and drought concerns across the Balkans.

Snap Elections: Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić dissolved parliament and called early elections for October 25, saying political tensions must be settled at the ballot box as student-led protests continue after the Novi Sad station canopy collapse. Student Politics: The “Student list – Students are winning” group says it’s ready to compete, while students say the official list will be published soon. Foreign Policy: Marko Đurić met U.S. lawmakers and later Uzbekistan’s FM in Belgrade, stressing EU membership and regional stability; Serbia also moves to deepen ties with Uzbekistan via trade and cooperation steps. Diplomacy & Culture: Đurić marked the centenary of Belgrade’s Sukat Shalom Synagogue and represented Serbia at Norway’s King Harald V state funeral in Oslo. EU Backlash Over Mladic: EU officials condemned Serbia’s hero’s funeral for Ratko Mladić in Belgrade, raising fresh doubts about Serbia’s EU path. Economy Watch: Serbia reported Q2 real GDP growth of 3.8% with low unemployment and stable inflation. Global Context: UN Women warned AI could worsen inequality for women as August hit the hottest month on record worldwide.

Snap Elections: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić dissolved parliament and set snap parliamentary elections for October 25, citing “huge turbulences” and the need for clear voter direction after nearly two years of street protests. Student Politics: An academic community urged democratic opposition parties to back the student protest movement’s ticket instead of running separately, arguing the priority is restoring conditions for real democratic competition. EU Tensions: The fallout from Ratko Mladić’s hero-style funeral continues to strain Serbia’s EU path, with EU officials and regional voices condemning “glorification” and warning it undermines accession values. Economy Watch: Caretaker PM Đuro Macut said Q2 real GDP growth hit 3.8%, inflation 2.2%, unemployment 7.2%, and highlighted ongoing capital projects and tourism gains. Foreign Policy: Serbia and Uzbekistan pushed forward a strategic partnership, including talks on cooperation and steps toward opening Serbia’s embassy in Uzbekistan. Trade Dispute: Kosovo imposed a temporary anti-dumping duty on Serbian wheat seed, adding €40 per tonne.

Snap Election: Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić says extraordinary parliamentary elections will be held on October 25, with decrees dissolving the National Assembly to be signed at noon on Wednesday, after months of student-led pressure. EU Backlash Over Mladic Funeral: The EU and UK condemned Serbia’s role in Ratko Mladić’s “hero’s” send-off in Belgrade, with Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa calling the official support “shocking” and a failure to confront Serbia’s past; Bosnia expelled two Serbian diplomats in protest. Croatia Raises the Stakes: Croatia warned that glorifying Mladić is contrary to EU values and pushed for suspension of talks with Serbia. Belgrade Procurement Fight: In local governance, Belgrade’s traffic-light modernization tender is again under scrutiny, with allegations of pressure on the procurement watchdog and concerns the same company keeps benefiting. Serbia–Uzbekistan Partnership: Serbia and Uzbekistan signed a strategic partnership package in Belgrade, exchanging 20 documents covering transport, renewable energy, agriculture, digitalization, and a possible free-trade working group. UN “Equal Earth” Map: Serbia abstained as the UN backed the “Equal Earth” equal-area projection to show Africa’s true size more accurately, while India stressed the vote was purely technical.

EU–Serbia Fallout: EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa condemned Serbia’s senior officials attending Ratko Mladić’s “hero’s” funeral, calling the images “shocking” and warning it clashes with EU values. Diplomatic Retaliation: Bosnia expelled two Serbian diplomats over the funeral and suspended a regional cooperation accord, while Montenegro opened a case against a Serbian Orthodox bishop for praising Mladić. Domestic Politics & Fairness: Transparency Serbia says Oct. 25 elections will be held under worse conditions than in 2023, citing voter pressure and money distribution concerns. Serbia–Uzbekistan Push: In Belgrade, Serbia and Uzbekistan exchanged 20 documents and signed a statement on a strategic partnership, targeting more trade and a possible free-trade deal. EU Integration Talks: Nemanja Starović met the UK ambassador to discuss EU accession and regional stability, including Kosovo pressure. Society & Culture: Belgrade hosted high-level Non-Aligned Movement anniversary commemorations, with leaders stressing sovereignty and international law.

Snap Election Push: Prime Minister Đuro Macut backed dissolving Serbia’s parliament and calling early elections, saying it could cool tensions and move politics back into institutions. EU vs. Mladic Funeral: Thousands packed Belgrade for the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, with military honours and Orthodox Church leadership, while the EU warned Serbia against “glorification” and genocide denial. Politics at the University: Serbia’s Senate rejected folding the Faculty of Serbian Studies into the University of Niš, citing legal and procedural concerns. Culture & Film Funding: After NAFFIT ended, questions grew over why Film Center of Serbia competitions were not announced, despite promises of funding calls. Belgrade Arts: non:Bitef spreads Bitef’s spirit across 60 locations on Sept. 20, framed as resistance to cultural repression. International Spotlight: The UN endorsed the Equal Earth world map projection, with Serbia among those abstaining. Regional Economy: ILO data ranks Serbia mid-pack on labor productivity in the Western Balkans. Diplomacy: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev began a two-day official visit to Belgrade.

Snap Election Push: Serbia’s government backed a proposal to dissolve parliament and call early elections, with PM Đuro Macut citing improved election conditions and ODIHR recommendations, setting up President Vučić’s decision within 72 hours. Mladic Funeral Fallout: Thousands filled Belgrade for the burial of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, led by Patriarch Porfirije and marked by military honours, Serbian flags and large crowds—sparking EU condemnation over “glorification” and prompting officials and media to weigh in on how Serbia handles its past. Regional Echoes: Reports from Republika Srpska show many still call Mladić a defender and hero, while international criticism continues to grow. EU-Accession Pressure: The funeral controversy is again framed as a test for Serbia’s EU path, with Brussels warning that such honours and revisionism clash with European values. Diplomacy & Business: PM Macut met France’s development agency chief and discussed infrastructure and EXPO 2027 cooperation. Transport Connectivity: Nemanja Starović met Transport Community’s new director to push rail/road upgrades and safer border crossings. UN Map Debate: The UN backed “Equal Earth” style fairer world maps, with Serbia among those abstaining on the resolution’s push to stop making Africa look smaller.

UN Cartography Push: The UN General Assembly adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution promoting equal-area projections like Equal Earth, with 164 countries voting in favour and the US the only no; Serbia abstained, while the vote targets the Mercator distortion that makes Africa look smaller. EU Rights Pressure: An EU Greens MEP called Serbia’s spyware spying on students and opposition “a criminal attack on democracy,” urging clear EU action. Belgrade Pride: Thousands marched in Belgrade for the 25th anniversary of Pride, with embassies and EU officials attending, amid warnings of threats and unmet demands. Mladic Commemoration Fallout: Supporters marked Ratko Mladić during the “eternal derby,” while Serbia’s state funeral plans continue to trigger EU criticism. Sports & Culture: Red Star/Partizan fans paid tribute; Serbia also saw cultural exchange with a Greek wedding tradition in Leskovac, and volleyball news placed Serbia third at EuroVolley behind Turkey and Italy. Regional Mobility: Hungary approved a full reconstruction of the Hercegszántó–Bački Breg border crossing to ease heavy-lorry queues and enable 24/7 freight traffic to Serbia.

Serbian Politics: The ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) has unanimously named President Aleksandar Vučić as its candidate for prime minister, with the party launching the “Aleksandar Vučić – United Serbia” ticket and promising rallies in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Niš and Kragujevac. War Crimes Fallout: In Belgrade, memorial events for convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić continued ahead of his burial, drawing fresh EU backlash and prompting an EU enlargement commissioner to cancel a Serbia visit over alleged “glorification.” Diplomacy & Travel: Saudi Arabia and Serbia signed a visa-waiver deal for holders of diplomatic, special and service passports, easing short-stay travel for official travel. Regional Spotlight: Sarajevo Canton reported an 8% jump in August tourist arrivals, with international visitors up 14%, and Serbia listed among key source markets. Global Context: The UN General Assembly backed a new “Correct the Map” push for equal-area world maps, with Serbia among the abstainers.

Election Watch: Serbia’s ruling SNS unanimously backed President Aleksandar Vučić as its lead candidate for prime minister, with snap parliamentary elections expected soon and Vučić saying he’ll step down as president after state duties. EU Pressure: EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos cancelled a Serbia visit, saying public “glorification” of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić is incompatible with EU values. Mladic Funeral Fallout: A Belgrade commemoration for Mladić drew hundreds, with his body returned on a government plane and burial set for Sept. 7, as regional condemnation grows. UN World Map Fight: The UN General Assembly endorsed the “Correct the Map” resolution promoting Equal Earth equal-area maps; the US voted against, while Serbia abstained—sparking debate over how Africa is represented. Sports: Türkiye won double gold at the Mediterranean Games, while Hearts of Oak begin their Ghana Premier League title push against Berekum Chelsea. Cyber/Ads: A Belgrade-led study reports recurrent neural networks tuned with metaheuristics can detect click fraud with reported accuracy of 0.786 on real ad data.

UN Map Overhaul: The UN General Assembly backed a Togo-led push to encourage more accurate world maps, with 164 countries voting for and the US voting against. The resolution urges governments, schools and tech firms to consider equal-area projections like Equal Earth, which shows Africa at its true scale instead of the Mercator projection’s distortions; France Joins In: France’s foreign minister said Paris will stop using Mercator in diplomacy and switch to a more proportionate projection; Serbia’s EU Pressure: EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos cancelled a planned Serbia visit, saying any public glorification of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić is incompatible with EU values; Mladic Commemoration: A Belgrade memorial for Mladić drew officials and supporters ahead of his burial, while condemnation continues across the Balkans; Serbia Politics: Serbia’s ruling SNS formally proposed Aleksandar Vučić as prime minister candidate if the snap election is won, with the vote expected around Oct. 25; Diplomacy: Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is set to visit Serbia on Sept. 7-8 for talks and a business forum; Trade Spotlight: Serbia’s first batch of exhibits arrived in Xiamen for China’s CIFIT investment and trade fair.

EU Accession Under Pressure: Enlargement chief Marta Kos cancelled her planned Serbia visit after what she called the “glorification” of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, whose body arrived in Belgrade on a government plane ahead of a Monday burial; Serbia’s leadership hit back, calling her explanation “stupid,” while the EU warns state honours could clash with European values. Spyware and Elections: A group of 29 European Parliament members urged the EU to slow Serbia’s accession over alleged Pegasus and NoviSpy targeting of student activists and opposition ahead of October elections, demanding rule-of-law steps before any further progress. Regional Energy Deal: Greece and Balkan partners signed an MoU to extend the Vertical Gas Corridor to North Macedonia and Serbia, aiming to strengthen cross-border energy security and north-south gas flows. Energy Prices Watch: Rising oil and gas prices are feeding into European inflation pressures, with gas storage levels reported at their lowest for the season in years. UN Cartography: The UN General Assembly endorsed a new map approach to better reflect Africa’s size, with Serbia among the abstentions and the US the only “no” vote. Sports Spotlight: Serbia’s women’s volleyball team advanced in EuroVolley, keeping continental World Cup and Olympic qualification hopes alive.

EU Accession Test: EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos canceled a planned Serbia visit after Belgrade flew Ratko Mladić’s body in on a government plane and prepared a funeral with military/state honours, warning that any “glorification” of the convicted “Butcher of Bosnia” is incompatible with EU values and could affect Serbia’s membership path. War Crimes Fallout: Mladić’s remains arrived in Belgrade with Serbian flag-draped coffin and army honours; Serbia says it will ensure a “peaceful” funeral, while EU and other European officials say the reception and honours are disrespectful to victims. Kosovo Case: Kosovo prosecutors filed an indictment against 35 suspects over the 1998 Jashari compound killings, naming senior Serbian security and interior figures. Spyware Crackdown: EU officials reacted to forensically verified Pegasus targeting of Serbian student activists, while Serbia’s authorities deny wrongdoing; digital rights groups say more than a dozen people were hit in the run-up to elections. Energy & Trade: Serbia seeks a long-term extension of its gas deal with Russia, while Serbia and Azerbaijan advance a Nis power-plant project and Serbia joins the Vertical Corridor gas pipeline push with North Macedonia. Culture & Sport: Serbia’s EXPO 2027 ties deepen with Slovenia’s participation contract signed in Belgrade; Serbia also qualifies for World Cup 2027 in volleyball after EuroVolley results.

War Crimes & Diplomacy: Ratko Mladić’s body was flown to Serbia on a government plane and received with military honours in Belgrade, as Serbia prepares a public viewing and Monday funeral—drawing EU criticism over “glorification of war criminals.” Local Politics: President Aleksandar Vučić cancelled a ruling party rally in Novi Sad, citing safety after protests and clashes with police. Spyware & Elections: Serbian student and opposition figures say they were hit by advanced spyware, including Pegasus and NoviSpy, with Apple threat warnings reported ahead of the October election. Foreign Policy: Marko Đurić met Guinea-Bissau and Ghana officials during the NAM 65th anniversary events in Belgrade, focusing on sovereignty and expanding economic ties. Energy Deal: Serbia, EPS/Srbija-gas and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR agreed on a joint venture for a new gas-fired power plant near Niš. Culture & Heritage: Archaeologists uncovered a remarkably preserved Late Roman private bath inside a fortified palace tower at Vrelo–Šarkamen.

Spyware Row: Serbia’s BIA dismissed claims that students and opposition figures were targeted by advanced spyware ahead of March local elections, calling them “trivial sensationalism,” as rights groups and Citizen Lab say Pegasus infections were confirmed in at least one case. Digital Safety: UNICEF estimates about 20 million internet-using children aged 12–17 across 21 countries faced online sexual abuse or exploitation in a year, with nearly 60% of cases linked to social media. Elections Watch: Serbia is expected to hold a snap parliamentary election on October 25, with critics pointing to the electoral roll and governance failures since 2012. Kosovo Dialogue: Petar Petkovic said Pristina’s refusal to form the Community of Serb Municipalities is not a matter of will but of respecting signed agreements. Energy Deal: Serbia, Azerbaijan and state firms EPS/Srbija-gas completed talks on a joint venture for a new up-to-500MW gas-fired power plant. Environment & Fire: EU firefighting support to Serbia was extended after wildfires threatened areas including the Deliblato Sands reserve, while NGOs warn planning-law changes could enable construction on burned forest land.

Snap Elections: Serbia is expected to hold early parliamentary elections on October 25, after President Vučić moves to dissolve parliament in the coming days. Protest Accountability: Thousands marked 22 months since the Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, renewing demands for truth and responsibility. Spy Scandal: Serbian activists and opposition figures say their phones were hit by advanced spyware (Pegasus and NoviSpy-linked malware), with authorities denying state involvement. Local Life & Economy: Belgrade plans a new 4-acre downtown public parking lot on leased BNSF Railway property to ease chronic parking pressure. Croatian Community Support: Croatia awarded €2 million to agricultural holdings across Serbia for Croats, aiming to boost farm investment and community stability. Youth Safety Online: UNICEF estimates about 20 million internet-using children in 21 countries faced online sexual exploitation or abuse in a year, with Serbia included in the surveyed data. Regional Diplomacy: Serbia’s top diplomats met counterparts from Guinea-Bissau and Ghana during the Non-Aligned Movement anniversary in Belgrade.