Sandro Gozi exclusive for REUC: European funds must not feed corruption — but serve the citizens

At a time when European values face serious challenges — from political polarization to the erosion of media freedom — we spoke with one of the most prominent voices of liberal Europe. Sandro Gozi, Secretary General of the European Democrats and Member of the European Parliament from the Renew Europe group, shares his views with the digital magazine rEUconnecting – REUC on the state of democracy in Serbia, the role of the European Union, and new forms of diplomacy that include citizens, students, and independent media.

In this exclusive interview, Gozi discusses the political vacuum in Serbia, the urgent need for reforms, the role of the student movement, and the importance of the EU applying the same standards to both member states and candidate countries. His message is clear: solidarity is not interference, and Europe must stand with citizens — not with those who threaten democracy.

Interview

Journalist: Several times the „European Democrats“ party sent an appeal because of the current political vacuum in Serbia. Do the panels you attended in Belgrade have any influence?

Sandro Gozi: „Panels don’t change a country overnight. But they matter because they connect students, independent media, NGOs, and academics with European partners; they align facts and keep democratic standards on the agenda when those in power try to push them aside. They also shine a spotlight on Serbia’s situation. Our message is simple: Serbia belongs in Europe, but accession is only possible with reforms, the rule of law, and media freedom. When citizens’ voices are heard, governments recalculate the costs of repression. We highlighted concrete measures—audited voter lists, balanced TV airtime, and firm guarantees of a fair and transparent electoral process—so that change is tangible, not rhetorical. Influence starts by making these civic actors harder to ignore and by signalling that Europe stands with citizens, not with anyone who threatens democracy.„

Journalist: How do you balance between raising your voice for democracy, but at the same time not interfering in Serbian politics?

Sandro Gozi: „We support rules, not parties. Serbia must meet universal standards: free media, fair elections, and an independent judiciary. Asking that these standards be guaranteed is solidarity, not interference. That’s why we say there should be no early elections until voter lists are fully audited by credible partners and an impartial media authority ensures balanced airtime, ideally coordinated with the Council of Europe. We don’t pick winners; we insist on a level playing field where citizens choose. Clear red lines apply: detaining peaceful protesters is unacceptable; students still in custody must be released immediately; intimidation on the public broadcaster controlled by Vučić must stop. The police must be politically neutral, and violence or humiliation cannot be tolerated. This is principled engagement and fully consistent with EU values.„

Journalist: To what extent are democratic values really respected in the EU today?

Sandro Gozi: „The EU isn’t perfect, but all member states are bound by the rule of law: independent courts, police not at the service of the ruling party, free media, and public information that isn’t propaganda. If a demonstration is banned, organizers can appeal to an independent court, and everyone knows public force is used to protect all citizens, not a party. Where governments tried to dismantle rule of law, consequences followed: Poland has been addressing serious issues flagged by the EU; Hungary has many funds frozen and risks, in time, losing voting rights; Slovakia is moving in a worrying direction. On Serbia, the European Parliament has been clear; now the Commission should follow through with concrete consequences when commitments are breached. Our position is straightforward: apply the same yardstick to members and candidates, end media capture, and stop normalizing attacks on journalists. That’s how Europe earns the authority to speak for democracy in Belgrade as well as in Brussels.„

Journalist: Is it a correct policy to continue to approve funds for Serbia if the politicians of the European Union see the corruption that is ubiquitous in Serbia?

Sandro Gozi: „Funding must be strictly conditional, transparent, and reversible. Where reforms advance—justice, media freedom, clean procurement—support should increase. Where corruption or state capture blocks progress, programmes should be suspended and redesigned with clear milestones, independent monitoring, and public dashboards. The Novi Sad railway-station tragedy exposed deeper problems—negligence, opaque contracts, collusion—so taxpayers deserve guarantees that EU money won’t entrench bad governance. Conditionality isn’t punishment; it’s the only way to ensure funds serve citizens, not networks of impunity. Parliament has set expectations; the Commission should translate them into consequences.„

Journalist: What is the best way to implement democracy in Serbia and to preserve such a society in the future?

Sandro Gozi: „Start with elections people can trust: a full audit of voter lists under OSCE or other credible supervision; independent oversight to guarantee balanced airtime; and courts that resolve complaints swiftly. Protect independent journalism and end media capture so citizens get facts, not propaganda. Digitize and publish public spending to choke off clientelism; ensure the police are politically neutral and use force only when strictly necessary. Europe should match words with deeds: technical assistance, targeted funding, and consistent scrutiny instead of mixed signals. Politically, we hope opposition forces can unite when elections come—and do so in coalition with the student movement, which has proven to be the country’s vital energy. Those young people—seeking rights and freedoms, and an end to corruption and nepotism—should be supported, not repressed, and given a voice and a role in the electoral competition when it happens.„

Journalist: Politicians from several European countries are the most represented in the media in the EU. What is the main reason for that and is the European Union under the influence of the richest countries?

Sandro Gozi: „Large—and populous—countries naturally generate bigger headlines. That’s media logic, not an EU conspiracy. Inside the EU, however, coalitions of small and medium states shape outcomes every day, especially in the Parliament. The real distortion isn’t Brussels favouring the rich; it’s national-level media capture that suffocates pluralism and even threatens opponents. In Serbia, a leaked conversation shows direct pressure on N1’s editorial line, while public broadcasters and pro-government tabloids marginalize the opposition. That’s why balanced airtime and independent regulators are non-negotiable. Europe should invest in media pluralism and fight disinformation, while Serbian authorities must stop attacks on journalists and end political interference in newsrooms.„

Journalist: In what direction is the policy of the European Democrats in the EU going and how realistic is it to achieve the goals?

Sandro Gozi: „Our compass is liberal, pro-European, and pragmatic: democracy, rule of law, and media freedom first; competitiveness with social inclusion; and a foreign policy that supports democratic movements from Kyiv to Belgrade, from Istanbul to Tbilisi, from Chișinău to Budapest. In practice, that means consistent conditionality, support for a credible pro-European front in Serbia, and zero tolerance for state capture. The spotlight we have put on Serbia—on the government’s systematic use of violence as a political tool—has already shifted the debate in Brussels. One major hurdle remains: the European People’s Party must move beyond ambiguity and proceed swiftly to expel SNS. The experience with Orbán should be a lesson: a decade of foot-dragging only damaged the EPP’s image and didn’t stop authoritarian drift. It’s time for Weber to act.„

Journalist: According to the global picture, the diplomacy of the world is outdated, what would be the new ways of diplomacy that would create a better life for citizens?

Sandro Gozi: „Modern diplomacy must be whole-of-society. Not only foreign ministries, but also cities, SMEs, universities, trade unions, NGOs, and independent media should sit at the same table—especially where trust in politics is low. Tie assistance to rule-of-law and human-rights benchmarks; deploy rapid-reaction teams to protect journalists under pressure; and roll out election-integrity tools quickly—audits, digital transparency, civic protection. Reward governments that open space for opposition and students; raise the costs for those who close it. Civic courage must be recognized: that’s why we welcome the nomination of Serbian students for the Sakharov Prize—they are a moral voice for a European Serbia, and their courage deserves concrete results.“