Increased repression in Serbia - One year after the Novi Sad railway station tragedy that killed 16 people, Serbia continues facing mass protests against corruption, state capture and democratic backsliding under President Vučić's regime. Renew Europe has repeatedly denounced the increasingly serious attacks on democracy for which the Vučić regime is responsible and recently welcomed a delegation of Serbian liberal opposition leaders to express its support. The resolution of the European Parliament expresses solidarity with victims, condemns violence against protesters, urges release of detainees, calls for protection of civil liberties, advocates stronger EU engagement with Serbian civil society, proposes sanctions for officials responsible for abuses, and recommends reassessment of EU funding if democratic decline persists. Debate, Tuesday 21 October, 15:00. Vote, Wednesday 22 October, 12:30. Renew MEP : Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS, Austria).
Sakharov Prize. The Serbian students have made it to the final shortlist for the Sakharov Prize ! Renew Europe ardently defends their candidacy as a support for their courage and for standing up for their values. Since the November 2024 Novi Sad railway station canopy collapse, these young people have taken to the streets demanding a free and democratic Serbia aligned with EU values of human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and rule of law. Their peaceful yet determined demonstrations, frequently confronted with state violence and media smear campaigns, demonstrate exceptional dedication to justice and transparency. By risking their safety and futures, these students challenge authoritarian drift in Serbia while setting a powerful example for young people across the Balkans and beyond. Designation of the final Laureate(s) by the Conference of Presidents : Wednesday 22 October. Renew MEPs : Group President Valérie Hayer (Renaissance, France), Helmut Brandstätter (NEOS, Austria), Irena Joveva (GS, Slovenia)
Assault on the rule of law in Bulgaria - Ahead of the topical debate requested by Renew Europe, our political group is sounding the alarm over Bulgaria’s deepening rule of law crisis. The situation represents a broader European concern, undermining the EU’s democratic values and strategic interests in the Black Sea region. Renew Europe calls for an urgent fact-finding mission to Bulgaria to assess rule-of-law compliance and the legality of opposition detentions, including the case of Blagomir Kotsev, the democratically elected Mayor of Varna, who remains in custody for three months without credible charges. The group urges the European Commission to suspend Recovery and Resilience Facility payments linked to judicial reform and anti-corruption until political prisoners are released and institutional independence is restored. For Renew Europe, this debate is a test of the EU’s credibility: European funds must not sustain state capture, and defending democracy in Bulgaria means defending democracy across the European Union. Debate : Wednesday, 22 October 13:30. Renew MEP : Group President Valérie Hayer (Renaissance, France)
Omnibus 1 on ethical business rules and sustainable reporting, will the centre hold? - This week the EP legal affairs committee voted an EPP-Renew-S&D compromise text and a mandate to go into trilogue negociations. Renew was united on this centrist deal but single members from EPP and S&D broke their group lines – as a result, some parts of the compromises passed, but only by one vote (!). Next week, Monday, at the start of the plenary, the JURI mandate will be announced. That mandate can be challenged, and it most certainly will. Then the JURI compromise will be put to a vote on Wednesday. Will the centre hold in plenary? Renew will make sure it does. Vote : Wednesday 22 October, 12:30. Renew MEP : Pascal Canfin (Renaissance, France).
