Serbia’s civic awakening: the 2024-2025 student protests in focus

Policy Brief

The 2024-2025 Serbian student protests – triggered by the fatal collapse of the Novi Sad train station canopy – have become the most formidable civic challenge to Serbia’s authoritarian trajectory.

This policy brief traces their evolution, from spontaneous gatherings and student blockades demanding accountability to the shift toward political engagement.

As the crisis is nowhere near its end, this paper concludes with policy recommendations for a more proactive EU response, arguing that the protests may signal a turning point in Serbia’s democratic development and reshape its European future.