The European University Foundation expresses its deep concern regarding the recent developments at the University of Belgrade, an EUF member institution, where police entered the Rectorate without clear prior notification or a transparent explanation of the legal basis for their intervention. Such actions raise serious questions about proportionality, due process, and respect for university autonomy.
We note with concern that these events unfold in a broader context of student mobilisation in Serbia in support of democratic principles, institutional accountability, and the rule of law. Universities must remain safe and independent spaces for inquiry, dialogue, and civic engagement, free from undue pressure or political instrumentalisation.
The European University Foundation supports the right of the University of Belgrade to pursue all lawful and institutional avenues to protect its autonomy, academic freedom, and the integrity of its academic community. We call on the relevant authorities to ensure that any investigation is conducted in a transparent, proportionate, and fully lawful manner, in line with the standards expected in a democratic society.
The EUF stands in solidarity with the University of Belgrade and the wider academic community in Serbia.