MP Borko Stefanovic stressed that the work of the Monitoring Committee rapporteurs is of exceptional importance, emphasising that Serbia faces serious problems in terms of respecting democratic standards.

He pointed to the numerous shortcomings of the electoral process, including the presence of police at polling stations, outdated voter lists and the existence of parallel voter lists, as well as the organised arrival of citizens of other countries to vote in local elections.

Stefanovic said he was glad that the Council of Europe will send an observation mission for the upcoming local elections in Serbia, and have the opportunity to see for themselves how elections are conducted here.

He also addressed the problems in the police and judiciary, saying that the opinions of the Venice Commission are expected on the recently adopted laws in the field of justice, which he believes are aimed at controlling the prosecution, especially the Special Prosecutor's Office for Organised Crime.

MPs Djordje Stankovic, Stefan Janjic, Ahmedin Skrijelj, Slavica Radovanovic, Danijela Nestorovic, Biljana Djordjevic, Aleksandar Jovanovic and Vladimir Dordjevic informed the rapporteurs of the PACE Monitoring Committee in more detail about the current political and social situation in Serbia, pointing out the high level of police repression against students and citizens and the mass arrests and detentions of protest participants. They also spoke of the unfavourable situation in the media and the absence of elections for members of the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media. They emphasised that freedom of speech, human rights and democracy are being stifled in Serbia, as well as the unfavourable position of the Bosniak minority, which is excluded from the institutions of the system.

The MPs jointly assessed that the democratic space is being systematically narrowed and democratic mechanisms are not respected, even in Parliament.