EU poised to slash up to €1.5B in funding to Serbia over democracy fears – POLITICO

BRUSSELS — Serbia faces losing up to €1.5 billion in EU funding as the European Commission weighs pulling the plug over democratic backsliding and the country’s close ties with Russia.

The Balkan nation isn’t a member of the EU, but having launched talks to join in 2014 it is eligible for funds and grants to help it push through legal reforms. A decision to suspend payouts would further complicate the EU’s so-called enlargement process, with countries like Ukraine and Montenegro racing to join but influential nations like France urging caution.

“We are increasingly worried about what is happening in Serbia,” European Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told POLITICO. “From laws that undermine the independence of the judiciary to crackdowns on protesters and recurrent meddling in independent media.”