EU regrets Serbia's failure to take necessary action in Banjska attack

The European Union has expressed regret that Serbia has still not done anything to bring those responsible for the terrorist attack in Banjska to justice. This was the EU's response after the conviction of three defendants last week for committing a terrorist act.

The European Union has expressed regret that Serbia has not yet taken the necessary steps to bring those responsible for the attack in Banjska to justice. 

An EU spokesperson told KOHA that following last week's decision regarding the attack in Banjska, the lack of concrete action by Serbia remains concerning. 

"Following last week's decision on the attack in Banjska, the EU regrets that Serbia has still not taken the necessary steps to bring to justice those responsible for the attacks in northern Kosovo in 2023," the EU spokesperson said.

On April 24, the Basic Court in Pristina sentenced the two defendants Blagoje Spasojevic and Vladimir Tolic to life imprisonment, while Dusan Maksimovic was sentenced to 30 years in prison. 
During the attack by armed Serbs, Sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was killed, one was wounded, and three were injured. 

On September 24, 2023, a heavily armed group of Serbs first blocked the bridge in the village of Banjska, Zvečan, with two trucks, and then attacked the police who went to the scene to remove the truck from the road. 

also Arberi April 27, 2026 EU regrets Serbia's lack of action over Banjska attack

Joseph Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief at the time of the armed attack against Kosovo police, called it a terrorist attack. 

Kosovo has repeatedly demanded that Serbia be sanctioned for failing to hand over the suspects in the attack, led by the former deputy leader of the Serbian List, Milan Radoicic. 

The family of the slain police sergeant also expressed dissatisfaction with how the field leader of the terrorist attack, Milan Radoićić, has not been brought to justice in Kosovo. 

According to the indictment of the Special Prosecution, the defendants also had weapons loadouts that they gave to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Serbia, but they also trained at bases such as Pasuljankse Livade, which cannot be entered without military permission.

The indictment also tells of a meeting where Radoicic, in the presence of the President of Serbia, said: "You have heard what these brave men are saying, I will tell you only one thing on behalf of all of them, that next time we will defend ourselves to the end, to the death."

also Arberi 7 o. before EU on the third anniversary of Banjska: Serbia to act without delay – regret for lack of action

After the attack, the EU said it would not impose sanctions without indictments, and later stated that it would not do so without a verdict in the case. 

Unlike Kosovo, which has demanded that those accused of the terrorist attack be handed over, the EU has demanded that Serbia itself take measures against those who carried out the terrorist attack.