Let’s care for each other. The world today finds itself before a crisis that threatens our health, our economy and the very fabric of our society. The spread of the virus COVID 19 has

Recent events in Serbia show a negative development for democracy and civic space in a country that has been on the path to EU accession for a while but where democracy has been in rapid decline for years. In such an atmosphere, it is citizens’ fundamental right to hold their government to account. It is imperative that measures adopted by the Serbian government during the health emergency respect democratic values. Beyond the pandemic, democratic and structural reforms to safeguard inclusive and transparent decision-making, strengthened by an independent media and permitting dialogue with civil society, are vital to regain citizens’ trust and keep a trajectory towards a European future. The transformative power of European integration has at its core the need for demonstrating respect for the rule of law and fundamental democratic principles in Serbia, according to the EU’s founding values. The EU must ensure that the Serbian government lives up to its responsibilities in the context of the accession negotiations.

On Tuesday, 28 July, the European Movement International will hold the fourth edition of #EuropeanChats – a new Facebook live series from the European Movement International featuring members of our network from across Europe.

#EuropeanChats gathers European citizens for informal discussions on different issues surrounding the COVID-19 crisis from their national perspectives, e.g. divergent national responses, how to sustain European cohesion and solidarity, the role of civil society in a public health crisis, and the potential lasting socio-economical impact of the virus.