For two years, opposition politicians, students and activists in Serbia have been targeted using highly sophisticated spyware. The latest revelations once again show how democracy and the rule of law are being eroded under President Aleksandar Vučić.
The Serbian digital rights organisation SHARE Foundation has identified at least 14 people who have been targeted in such attacks since the beginning of 2026. This is not only an attack on individuals. It is an attack on free political activity and democratic participation.
Our Green colleague Radomir Lazović was among those targeted
One of the victims is Radomir Lazović, a member of the Serbian Parliament and Co-President of the Green-Left Front (ZLF), as well as member of the European Green Party.
During the period in which he was targeted for surveillance, he worked with European partners to push for a more critical EU approach towards President Vučić.
The EU must act now
Serbia wants to join the European Union. But EU membership requires respect for fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law. Together with other Members of the Greens/EFA Group, I have therefore urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a joint letter to respond to these latest revelations.
We are calling for EU funding to Serbia to be suspended until the allegations have been fully and independently investigated. Any further progress in Serbia’s EU accession process must be conditional on ending the abuse of surveillance technology and strengthening the rule of law. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen should also cancel her planned official visit to Belgrade and finally act on the European Parliament’s recommendations concerning the use of spyware.
As I told CyberScoop, some of our demands may now be taken up. But the abuse of spyware will certainly not be the only reason. We have been calling for consequences for the Serbian government for some time. These revelations show once more that the status quo is no longer tenable.
