The European Union has suspended financial aid to Serbia under a multi-country support initiative due to concerns over recent judicial reforms. The decision was announced by EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, who cited a deterioration in judicial standards as the reason for halting payments.

The funding in question is part of the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, a €6 billion ($7.06 billion) program running from 2024 to 2027. This plan aims to stimulate economic growth across six Balkan nations, including Serbia, while supporting their progress toward European Union integration.

Commissioner Kos made the announcement at an event held at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, stating that payments had been paused "for the time being" because of backsliding in Serbia's judiciary. She emphasized that until the issues are addressed, Serbia would be ineligible to receive EU financial support under the program.

The move comes after Serbia's parliament approved judicial reforms in January without consulting key stakeholders such as prosecutors, judges, or EU experts. The amendments have drawn criticism for granting court presidents increased powers over judges and for eliminating protections intended to preserve the independence of prosecutors.

Supporters of the reforms argue that changes were necessary to improve efficiency and accountability within the judiciary. However, opponents, including various legal experts and EU officials, contend that these measures undermine judicial independence and weaken checks and balances.

The European Union’s suspension highlights ongoing tensions between Brussels and Belgrade over judicial standards, which remain a core condition in the EU accession process. Serbia's government has yet to respond in detail to the suspension or outline any corrective steps. The outcome of this dispute is likely to influence Serbia’s future access to EU funding and its broader ambitions for membership integration.