AGP Executive Report

EU Path & Diplomacy: Serbia’s EU integration push stayed in focus as Minister Nemanja Starović told MPs the government is ready to progress after receiving a sixth European Commission recommendation for opening Cluster 3, while an opposition no-confidence debate continued. Foreign Policy Appointments: The Council of Ministers approved new ambassadors for Spain in Ukraine, Latvia, Panama and Serbia. Parliament & Regional Ties: Deputy Parliament Speaker Marina Ragus met Azerbaijan’s Deputy FM Fariz Rzayev, highlighting room to deepen cooperation in IT, AI and energy, and noting Azerbaijan’s planned participation in Belgrade’s EXPO 2027. Economy & Public Services: Apoteka Beograd workers say President Vučić promised repayment of 16 months of unpaid salaries within 30–45 days, with arrears put at about RSD 900 million. Business & Finance: Chinese-owned Zijin Copper said it sold 17 tons of gold to Serbia’s central bank over 7.5 years, with NBS holding the gold as reserves. Tech & Marketing: Telekom Srbija is modernizing customer engagement with SAS AI-driven marketing tools. Sports (Belgrade): UFC Fight Night 283 lands in Belgrade with Uros Medic headlining against Daniel Rodriguez, with Rodriguez speaking about returning to elite form after prison time.

EU Path & Politics: In Serbia’s parliament, Minister of European Integration Nemanja Starović said the government is pushing Serbia forward on the EU track, pointing to a new European Commission recommendation for opening Cluster 3 and arguing the “ball is in someone else’s court.” No-Confidence Campaign: Opposition MP Danijela Nestorović criticized the timing of the ruling coalition’s no-confidence debate, saying it was scheduled to suit an election push. Unpaid Salaries at Apoteka Beograd: President Aleksandar Vučić promised Apoteka Beograd staff will receive 16 months of unpaid salaries within 30–45 days, after arrears were put at about RSD 900 million. Gold to the National Bank: Chinese-owned Zijin Copper said it sold 17 tons of gold to Serbia’s central bank since 2019, with 164 bars delivered in the first half of 2026. Economy Watch: The dinar’s official median rate was 117.4261 RSD per euro. Serbia-Linked Global News: Wildfires in France and Spain forced mass evacuations as a new heatwave loomed, while the UN warned the climate crisis is escalating.

Serbia–China Tech Push: Serbia and China pledged deeper cooperation in AI, green technology and innovation at a Belgrade conference, signaling a shift from infrastructure-heavy ties toward “data mining” and new research and business links. EU Accession Pressure: Reports say some EU states want Serbia’s stalled talks to move faster, while others keep blocking progress over rule-of-law concerns and Serbia’s Russia alignment. Domestic Politics: Serbia’s parliament began a no-confidence debate after opposition filed a motion against PM Djuro Macut’s government, with Macut arguing the cabinet deserves to win. Budget Promises Questioned: Radio Free Europe discussed where Vučić’s promised cash relief for citizens would come from, including whether a budget reshuffle or extra debt is needed. EXPO 2027 Update: Belgrade signed a contract enabling CERN’s participation in EXPO 2027, with the expo set for May 15–Aug 15, 2027. Sports—Red Star: Red Star host Larne in Champions League qualifying after a 4-0 first-leg win, aiming to reach the next round.

EXPO 2027 & CERN: Serbia’s EXPO 2027 team signed in Belgrade a contract securing CERN’s participation as an official expo participant, with the event set for May 15–Aug 15, 2027. Politics & Parliament: Serbia’s National Assembly has started debating a no-confidence motion against PM Djuro Macut’s cabinet over the “General Staff” affair; the opposition says the government should fall, while the ruling side argues the motion will fail and notes the opposition’s earlier quorum problems. Economy & Currency: The dinar’s official median rate is 117.4305 per euro, with the NBS reporting slight moves versus last week. Business & Tech: Insurtech Ominimo says it has raised a Series B valuing it at $1.6bn, making it Serbia’s first unicorn. Trade & US Tariffs: President Vučić says the US has temporarily lifted 35% tariffs on Serbian goods, moving them to zero from Friday, with later levels expected around 10–12%. Culture & Film: Bendita Film Sales picked up Serbian drama “3 Weeks Later,” which won an Europa Cinemas Label award at Karlovy Vary. Sports: Dusan Tadić signed a two-year deal with NEC Nijmegen ahead of Champions League qualifying.

ASEAN Diplomacy: Serbia’s FM Marko Đurić says the country met all goals at the ASEAN Summit in Manila, including stronger backing for Serbia’s territorial integrity and talks on Expo 2027 Belgrade participation. Anti-Corruption Push: BIRODI backs amendments to the Law on Prevention of Corruption, calling for a clear separation between state functions and party posts, plus integrity plans for local government and political parties. Election Timeline: President Aleksandar Vučić says presidential elections could be held late December 2026 or by early February 2027, depending on when parliamentary elections land. Danube Drought Impact: Record-low Danube water levels are disrupting shipping and energy supplies, with boats stranded and shipwrecks exposed in Serbia and Croatia. Belgrade Rights & Safety: Serbia’s LGBTQ+ community faces an “epidemic of violence,” with reports of attacks and concerns about protection. Sports—Belgrade Clubs: Partizan’s Osman Bukari scored his first Super Liga goal since returning to Red Star’s city rival, while Red Star also saw a strong start with Bukari’s earlier impact in the league.

Danube Drought Disrupts Serbia: Record-low Danube water levels have left boats beached and shipping slowed across Serbia and Croatia, exposing decades-old wrecks and stranding vessels in places like Novi Sad as heatwaves and severe drought bite into transport and fuel supplies. Belgrade LGBTQ+ Violence Concerns: Serbia’s LGBTQ+ community is facing an “epidemic of violence,” with recent attacks in Belgrade and criticism that protection is inconsistent and hostility is becoming normalized. Serbia’s Political Tensions: The Parliament of Serbia is set to consider a no-confidence vote on July 27, while US lawmakers are also pushing to block a Belgrade OSCE meeting. International Courtroom Spotlight: A US atrocity prosecutor says India may be sliding toward crimes against humanity targeting Muslims, drawing parallels to past mass atrocity cases. Sports in Serbia: The World Shooting Para Sport World Cup in Novi Sad opened with India’s Mona Agarwal winning bronze in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1. Belgrade-Linked Heritage: Theodor Herzl’s grandparents, Shimon and Rivka Herzl, are set to be transferred from Belgrade to Israel for reburial.

Danube Drought Disrupts Serbia: Historic low water levels on the Danube are leaving boats beached, slowing shipping and hitting fuel imports, while also exposing old shipwrecks and riverbanks across Serbia and Croatia. LGBTQ+ Safety Concerns: Serbia’s LGBTQ+ community is warning of an “epidemic of violence” after a reported attack on a drag performer in Belgrade, alongside earlier assaults tied to right-wing groups. Parliament & Governance: The Serbian parliament is set to consider a vote of no confidence in the government on July 27, keeping political tensions high. Foreign Policy & Diplomacy: Serbia’s leadership continues diplomatic push in Asia, including meetings tied to ASEAN objectives, while new reporting highlights Serbia’s role in regional security cooperation. UFC Abu Dhabi: Magomed Ankalaev dominated Bogdan Guskov with a fifth-round TKO, while bonuses were awarded across the card.

LGBTQ+ Safety in Focus: A Belgrade attack on drag performer Aleksandar Savic, described as part of an “epidemic of violence,” has reignited fears that protection for minorities is inconsistent, with another earlier assault on a Srebrenica memorial organizer also reported. Roma Rights and Racism: A new report highlights derogatory comments by Serbian opposition figure Božo Drašković about Roma, pointing to wider discrimination and the failure of media hosts to push back. Parliament Watch: Serbia’s National Assembly is set for an extraordinary session on July 27 to consider a vote of no confidence in the government, after earlier attempts were blocked by quorum issues. Danube Drought Impact: Record-low Danube levels are leaving boats beached and exposing riverbeds in Serbia and Croatia, with heat and drought blamed for the sharp drop. Foreign Policy/ASEAN: Serbia’s FM Marko Đurić says the ASEAN summit in Manila met its goals, including renewed support for Serbia’s territorial integrity and talks on Expo 2027 participation. Regional Economy: A Western Balkans public-debt snapshot shows Serbia’s debt ratio at 44.4% of GDP in 2025, with projections for further decline.

Parliament Showdown: Serbia’s parliament will hold an extraordinary session on July 27 to consider a vote of no confidence in the government, after opposition deputies pushed the motion again following earlier failed attempts due to quorum issues. Foreign Policy in Focus: Marko Đurić wrapped up Serbia’s ASEAN summit push in Manila saying all objectives were met, including renewed support for Serbia’s territorial integrity and talks on Expo 2027 participation; he also met counterparts from the Philippines and Chile. Belgrade OSCE Fight: US lawmakers are moving to block Belgrade from hosting the OSCE’s 2027 annual meeting, citing Serbia’s ties with Russia, its sanctions stance, and Kosovo policy. Economy & Growth: PM Djuro Macut chaired a GDP-growth coordination council session, focusing on industrial output, investment, agriculture and measures against African swine fever. Energy & Climate Impact: Record-low Danube levels are disrupting navigation and hitting fuel imports, fisheries and tourism, with boats left stranded and long-term wildlife concerns raised.

ASEAN Diplomacy: Serbia’s FM Marko Đurić says the Manila ASEAN summit met all goals, including Southeast Asian support for Serbia’s territorial integrity and talks on Expo 2027. Belgrade Governance: Belgrade Assembly speaker Nikola Nikodijević removed from the agenda a draft 10-year public-private partnership for an integrated security system after opposition criticism and a missing commission opinion. Economy & Growth: PM Djuro Macut chaired a GDP-growth coordination council, focusing on industrial output, investment, competitiveness, and agriculture measures to curb African swine fever. Energy & Trade: Gazprom Export raised natural gas prices for Bosnia’s Energoinvest by 14.42%, renewing pressure for alternative supply routes. Environment: Record-low Danube levels are leaving boats beached and exposing shipwrecks, while Serbia’s fuel imports and cargo capacity are hit. Politics & Elections: Aleksandar Vučić says an early parliamentary election is due in October or early November, with a separate presidential vote later. Public Opinion: A survey finds Serbians see the US as the biggest foreign influence on political decisions, with corruption also blamed. Sports (Serbia-linked): Serbia’s Vojvodina is mentioned in Ajax’s UEFA Conference League context as Klopp’s Germany appointment dominates headlines.

EU-Serbia Diplomacy: Serbian PM Djuro Macut met Czech PM Andrej Babis in Belgrade, stressing EU membership as Serbia’s “strategic commitment” and saying accession should be merit-based, while both sides also discussed energy, infrastructure, transport, mining, agriculture, tourism and automotive cooperation. Kosovo Rule of Law: Serbia’s Justice Minister Nenad Vujic condemned Pristina’s demolition of Serb-owned weekend homes at Lake Gazivode as a property-right and rule-of-law violation, urging the EU to assess Kosovo’s judiciary and demand effective legal protection. Foreign Policy Pivot to Asia: FM Marko Đurić in Manila said deeper ties with ASEAN are a strategic priority, citing €1.3bn trade and pushing expanded cooperation with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian states. Banking Deal Watch: RBI reached the minimum acceptance threshold in its takeover bid for Addiko, while rival NLB keeps campaigning before July 29 deadlines. Energy Prices: Serbia’s mining and energy ministry approved oil firms’ use of operational euro-diesel reserves to stabilize domestic prices amid low Danube water levels and import limits. Sports—Serbia Abroad: Rangers completed the signing of Serbian midfielder Vanja Dragojevic from Partizan on a four-year deal, after a leaked cake post. Sports Betting—Belgrade UFC: Meridianbet was named official sports betting sponsor of UFC Fight Night Belgrade on Aug. 1 at Belgrade Arena.

Kosovo Tensions: Serbia’s Office for Kosovo-Metohija says Pristina demolished Serb-owned weekend homes near Lake Gazivode without a court order, calling it a rule-of-law breach and warning of “arbitrary” arrests, including the case of 36 Serbs at Gazimestan. EU & Rule of Law: Justice Minister Nenad Vujic urged the EU to urgently assess Kosovo’s judiciary and demanded effective legal protection for Serbs. Belgrade–Prague Talks: PM Djuro Macut met Czech PM Andrej Babiš, stressing Serbia’s EU path should be merit-based, while Vucic said Czech ties are strengthening and backed Czech participation in EXPO 2027. Green Finance: UniCredit Serbia and KfW launched a €43mn green credit line to fund energy efficiency and renewables for businesses and parts of the public sector. Sports (Rangers): Rangers confirmed the signing of Serbian midfielder Vanja Dragojevic from Partizan on a four-year deal, with the club calling him a leader with “huge potential.” Economy Watch: Serbia’s dinar median euro rate was 117.4206.

Artemis Accords & Tech Cooperation: Serbia’s FM Marko Đurić signed Serbia’s accession agreement to NASA’s Artemis programme at NASA Headquarters in Washington, calling it an “entry ticket” for Serbian institutes, scientists and industry to join cutting-edge space cooperation. Security & Diplomacy: Đurić also attended a Washington ministerial conference on the resurgence of political terrorism, stressing Serbia’s condemnation of attacks and highlighting violence targeting Serbs in the region. EU Funding Pressure: The EU warns that Western Balkan states missing reform targets could lose about €700m, with Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia lagging behind. Kosovo Rule-of-Law: EU and OSCE missions criticised Kosovo police demolitions of 11 Serb-owned villas near Lake Ujman/Gazivoda, citing due-process and property-right concerns. Regional Trade & Crime Cooperation: Serbia’s Deputy PM Ivica Dačić met Russia’s ambassador, thanking Moscow for support on territorial integrity and discussing cooperation on organised crime and emergencies. Transport Update: Serbia set up a border checkpoint at Belgrade’s Prokop station to enable renewed international rail services to Budapest and Vienna.

EXPO 2027 Prep: Slovakia’s EXPO commissioner presented plans for its Belgrade pavilion, including the “Tree of Opportunities” concept, with design paperwork, permits, pavilion handover and construction steps on track. EU Funding Pressure: The EU warns Western Balkans reform lag could cost Serbia, Kosovo and Bosnia about €700m as Brussels redirects money to countries meeting targets. Kosovo Rule-of-Law Row: International missions criticized Kosovo police for demolishing 11 Serb-owned villas near Lake Ujman/Gazivoda, citing due-process and property-right concerns; the U.S. Embassy also stressed Kosovo’s constitution guarantees Serb representation. Interpol Decision: Serbian activists in exile say Interpol rejected Serbia’s arrest-warrant request, arguing the case is politically motivated. Energy Supply Strain: Serbia says low Danube water levels and market disruption are blocking petroleum product imports, with only about 25% of July plans fulfilled. Diplomacy & Business: Vucic meets Czech PM Andrej Babi to discuss economic cooperation; Serbia also highlights Nigeria as its top African business partner. Sports & Culture: Serbia’s judo champion Aleksandar Kukolj talks building a next-gen coaching system; and Belgrade’s dinar sits at 117.4060 RSD per euro.

Serbia–China Pivot: President Aleksandar Vučić’s latest trip to China signals a shift toward tech, AI, robotics and energy, raising fresh questions about whether deeper alignment with Beijing is making Serbia’s EU path harder to sustain. Human Rights Watch on Transition Minerals: A monitoring group says allegations tied to Chinese-backed mining and refining projects have climbed, with 148 recorded in 2025 and 434 over five years, spotlighting the gap between commitments and real-world harm. Postal & Parcel Deal: United Group agreed to sell Serbia’s D Express to Austrian Post, combining D Express and City Express into a bigger operator with a Belgrade logistics hub, depots, parcel shops and lockers. Energy Planning: Serbia’s Mining and Energy Ministry published a tender for spatial planning and technical documentation for pumped-storage Djerdap 3, with bids worth about €5.3m and requirements covering water regime and navigation impacts. Foreign Policy Line: FM Marko Đurić says Serbia is pursuing a balanced foreign policy, pointing to the new strategic dialogue with the US alongside ties with China and Russia. Aviation Shock: A Serbian passenger who was nearly sucked out of a Ryanair window describes panic attacks and trauma after the emergency landing.

Aviation Horror: Serbian passenger Ljubiša Karović, 61, says he was “sucked” head-first out of a Ryanair window after an engine part broke off mid-flight, leaving him with panic attacks and refusing to fly again. Energy Tender: Serbia’s Mining and Energy Ministry launched a RSD 625m tender for spatial planning and technical documentation for the Djerdap 3 pumped-storage hydropower plant (1,200–2,400 MW), including water-regime and navigation impact work and coordination with Romania. Foreign Policy: FM Marko Đurić says Serbia is pursuing a “balanced” foreign policy and points to the new strategic dialogue with the United States, plus ties with China and Russia. Business Moves: Austrian Post announced it is buying 100% of Serbian courier D Express, aiming to merge logistics operations and expand its parcel footprint in South-Eastern Europe. Local Politics: Opposition claims Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Šapić is trying to build parallel security structures via a costly integrated security PPP. Elections Outreach: Student movement “Student Calling” starts phoning citizens to push for snap elections. Tourism Safety: An Indian couple alleges harassment in Serbia while filming a vlog, sparking debate over tourist safety. Media Freedom: A press-freedom watchdog warns Kosovo’s media freedom has declined amid political pressure and funding problems.