During the Bled Strategic Forum, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic warned that Serbia is on the brink of civil war, citing ongoing protests and political instability in the region.

He discussed the broader political turmoil in the Balkans, including recent unrest in Serbia following protests over a school tragedy and a canopy collapse in Novi Sad.

Plenkovic criticized the EU for its inadequate response to regional crises like the 2023 Banjska incident and ongoing issues in Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing that these problems have been largely ignored.

He stressed that EU enlargement should only proceed once candidate countries achieve political stabilization, advocating for cautious expansion amid regional and global uncertainties.

He highlighted that protests in Serbia have persisted for over two years, mainly demanding accountability for a tragic railway station collapse in Novi Sad that resulted in 16 deaths.

Plenkovic also addressed recent unrest in Serbia, including protests following a school shooting in Belgrade, describing the situation as tense and unusual.

He rejected claims that Croatia is regressing politically or socially, asserting that the country is more developed, safer, and more integrated into the EU than ever before.

Plenkovic clarified that his comments about regional instability are factual and not calls for conflict, criticizing the EU's lack of response to the Banjska incident involving Kosovo police and armed Serbs.

He emphasized that he does not endorse civil war but is highlighting the serious and costly developments in the region over recent months.

He pointed out specific issues hampering regional stability, including North Macedonia's EU accession blockage, ongoing unrest in Serbia, and political tensions in Bosnia and Herzegovina involving Milorad Dodik.

Plenkovic stressed that the harsh political realities in the Western Balkans require a cautious approach to EU enlargement, which depends on meeting specific political and stability criteria.

Serbian protesters believe that new elections are inevitable due to the government's failure to address recent tragedies and hold responsible those accountable.