28 October - 03 November 2026 | Weekly Regional Briefing
This week’s edition focuses on Serbia’s post-election institutional transition and the international assessment of its electoral process, alongside developments concerning judicial independence in Kosovo, judicial expertise in Montenegro and North Macedonia’s constitutional dispute over EU accession.
SERBIA: Election Results Signal a Major Political Transition
The preliminary results of Serbia’s 25 October parliamentary elections gave the Student List 52.71% of the vote and 140 seats in the 250-member National Assembly. The result opens the way to a change of government and raises important questions concerning the constitution of the new parliament, government formation and the country's institutional reform agenda.
The next stage will be governed by constitutional procedures, including the confirmation of parliamentary mandates and the election of a new government.
SERBIA: OSCE Identifies Serious Shortcomings in Parliamentary Elections
The OSCE/ODIHR preliminary assessment of Serbia's parliamentary elections identified significant concerns over unequal campaign conditions, misuse of public resources, voter pressure and media imbalance. While acknowledging strong voter participation and efficient election administration, observers highlighted shortcomings in electoral transparency and effective remedies.
The findings renew questions about Serbia's compliance with democratic standards and the implementation of outstanding electoral reforms.
MONTENEGRO: First Chamber of Court Experts Established
Montenegro has established its first Chamber of Court Experts under the new Law on Court Experts, which entered into force on 17 July 2026. The Chamber's governing bodies have been elected, creating an institutional framework for professional self-regulation, improved standards and cooperation with judicial institutions.
The initiative, supported by the Council of Europe and the EU, aims to improve the reliability of expert evidence and strengthen public confidence in judicial proceedings.
Source: Council of Europe, Montenegro Establishes Its First Chamber of Court Experts, 27 October 2026
KOSOVO: Dispute Over Amendments to Specialist Chambers Law Continues
The debate over amendments to the Law on the Kosovo Specialist Chambers continues following the President's decision to return the legislation to Parliament for reconsideration. The move followed concerns over the proposed changes to the court's jurisdiction, mandate and defendants' rights, alongside strong objections from the European Union.
The case highlights the continuing tension between domestic political considerations, Kosovo's international commitments and the independence of the Hague-based judicial institution.
NORTH MACEDONIA: Constitutional Amendments Remain an Obstacle to EU Accession
North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova has renewed criticism of the constitutional changes required to recognise the Bulgarian minority, describing the demand as an obstacle to the country's EU accession process.
The proposed amendments require a two-thirds parliamentary majority but have yet to secure sufficient political support. The dispute raises broader questions about constitutional sovereignty, bilateral conditions and the relationship between EU enlargement policy and domestic constitutional procedures.
Editor's Note
This week's developments demonstrate how political transitions and constitutional disputes continue to shape the rule of law across the Western Balkans. Serbia faces the challenge of translating an electoral mandate into institutional change, while Kosovo's debate over the Specialist Chambers highlights the importance of judicial independence and international commitments.
Elsewhere, Montenegro is strengthening the professional framework supporting its judiciary, while North Macedonia's EU accession remains closely tied to unresolved constitutional questions.
Across the region, the key challenge remains turning formal legal commitments into functioning and independent institutions.
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