The Institute of Social Sciences and the Institute of Economic Sciences, in a joint statement, emphasize that the students’ demands are an expression of concern for the future: „It is the duty of institutions to respond to them without passion or burden“.
“The student protests are supported by a growing number of citizens who expect state institutions to undertake nothing more or less than what is within their competence and to act in accordance with the principles of good governance dedicated to the best interests of citizens,” the statement says.
„The fight against corruption, zero tolerance for violence, and the establishment of the rule of law are non-political demands, befitting well-ordered societies. To overcome the current situation, it is necessary to promptly fulfill the students’ demands and then open a rational dialogue about the future of Serbia in which justice and laws are the basis for the organization and operation of impartial and professional institutions, the rule of law is the cornerstone for establishing social trust, and economic security and civil liberties are the values for which young people want to build their future in their own country.“
„The students’ demands are a legitimate expression of concern for the future and are a reason and incentive for promoting democratic values. In this context, it is the duty of institutions to respond to them without passion or burden,“ concludes the statement.
In the collapse of the canopy at the Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, 15 people died, and two were seriously injured. The tragedy sparked student protests across Serbia. There are four student demands: first, the publication of the complete documentation on the reconstruction of the Novi Sad train station; second, students of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade demand the arrest and prosecution of all suspects for the physical attack on students and professors on November 22 in front of the faculty building; third, the dismissal of charges against the arrested and detained students and young people at the protests regarding the collapse of the canopy; fourth, the increase in budget allocations for state higher education institutions by 20 percent.
