First published: June 17, 2026 at 08:07 AM
Last update: June 17, 2026 at 08:05 PM
Issue
Issue for June 17, 2026
This is the stable daily issue page at `/digest/2026-06-17/`: all updates for the day are collected in one feed with a verification log.
Last update: June 17, 2026 at 08:05 PMCards: 7Stories: 1
Fresh issue
June 17, 2026
The June 17 issue is updated with evening stories: after the Mrdic-laws dispute, VST scheduled a June 18 extraordinary session on assigning prosecutors to TOK, while Novi Sad students announced a large June 20 protest at the turbo roundabout. The feed also keeps the midday and morning local stories: the Novi Sad na vodi planning-session move to June 30, reopening of the 25. maj pools, the Ada Ciganlija overpass relocation to Autokomanda, and BVK's lower-water-pressure warning.
- 08:07 AM
Created the daily issue for 2026-06-17. Add cards as the source check progresses.
- 08:10 AM
The morning check added a local card on moving the Ada Ciganlija overpass to Autokomanda and a BVK service card on possible lower water pressure on June 17 in Novi Beograd, Zemun, and Surcin.
- 02:05 PM
The midday check added cards on the extraordinary parliament session over the Mrdic judicial-law amendments, the Planning Commission postponement for Novi Sad na vodi to June 30, and the reopening of the 25. maj outdoor pools in Belgrade.
- 08:05 PM
The evening check added cards on the June 18 extraordinary VST session over assigning prosecutors to TOK and the large June 20 student protest at Novi Sad's turbo roundabout; the Serbia-EU accession story was updated with the new institutional step around Venice Commission recommendations.
News feed
Issue cards
On June 17, Serbia's parliament opened an extraordinary session with 32 agenda items, including amendments to five judicial laws previously criticized by the Venice Commission. N1 reports that the Commission's follow-up opinion found seven of nine recommendations implemented, while two key lines remain unresolved.
Context: Serbia and EU accession
N1
Extraordinary parliament session today: amendments to the Mrdic laws on the agenda
(Danas vanredna sednica Skupštine, na dnevnom redu izmene Mrdićevih zakona)
N1 reports that the June 17 parliament session has 32 agenda items, including amendments to laws on public prosecution, judges, the High Prosecutorial Council, the seats and territories of courts and prosecutors' offices, and bodies for fighting high-tech crime. The outlet recalls that the Venice Commission published a follow-up opinion on the so-called Mrdic laws on June 16: Serbia implemented seven of nine recommendations, while two key issues remain unresolved. The agenda also includes expanding the guarantee scheme for first-home purchases by young people aged 20 to 35: 300 million euros from the state budget is proposed so the total amount of guaranteed loans rises to 900 million euros; by March 31, 2026, 5,736 such loans had been issued, and 581.8 million dinars in subsidized interest had been paid to banks.
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N1 and Danas report that an extraordinary session of the High Prosecutorial Council is scheduled for June 18, with temporary assignment of public prosecutors to the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office among the proposed agenda items. The issue is directly tied to the Venice Commission's follow-up opinion on the Mrdic laws, which singled out the fact that not all prosecutors had been returned to TOK as unresolved.
Context: Serbia and EU accession
N1
Extraordinary VST session tomorrow, with assignment of prosecutors to TOK on the agenda
(Sutra vanredna sednica VST, jedna od tačaka i upućivanje tužilaca u TOK)
N1, citing FoNet, writes that an extraordinary session of the High Prosecutorial Council is scheduled for June 18 and that one proposed agenda item is the temporary assignment of public prosecutors to the Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office. The outlet links the session to the Venice Commission's follow-up opinion, which identified as a key problem with the Mrdic-law package that not all prosecutors had been assigned to TOK. N1 recalls that in March, because of the laws' application, four prosecutors were left outside TOK: Irena Bjelos, Aleksandar Barac, Aleksandar Isailovic, and Dragoljub Miladinovic; after the Commission's first opinion in May, five prosecutors were assigned, but Irena Bjelos and Aleksandar Barac, who worked on the railway-station canopy case and the Konjuh marijuana seizure case, were not returned.
Read sourceDanas
VST decides tomorrow on assigning prosecutors to TOK, with Venice Commission remarks also on the agenda
(VST sutra odlučuje o upućivanju tužilaca u TOK: Na dnevnom redu i primedbe Venecijanske komisije)
Danas reports that an extraordinary VST session is scheduled for June 18 and that one proposed item is the temporary assignment of public prosecutors to TOK; the article also says Venice Commission remarks are on the agenda. The outlet repeats that the Commission's follow-up opinion singled out as a key problem that not all prosecutors had been assigned to TOK. According to Danas, Irena Bjelos, Aleksandar Barac, Aleksandar Isailovic, and Dragoljub Miladinovic were left outside TOK in March; after the Commission's first opinion in May, five prosecutors were assigned, but Bjelos and Barac, who worked on the canopy and Konjuh cases, were not returned.
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021 reports that students blockading Novi Sad faculties are calling a large protest on June 20 at the turbo roundabout, at the junction of Fruskogorska and Bulevar cara Lazara. Stands will be set up around 14:30, the main program begins at 17:30, and the announced focus is distrust in institutions, police, media freedom, and electoral conditions.
021
Coverage: Novi Sad / City services, Transport, Urbanism, Environment, Civic initiatives
Students tell 021.rs what will be in focus before the Novi Sad protest
(Studenti za 021.rs pred protest u Novom Sadu: Evo šta će biti u fokusu)
021 reports that students blockading Novi Sad faculties invited residents to a large protest on June 20 in Novi Sad; law student Kosta Golubovic told the outlet the gathering will address growing distrust in Serbian institutions, especially the Interior Ministry and police, suppression of media freedom, and poor electoral conditions in recent years and this year's local elections in more than 10 municipalities. According to Golubovic, students also want to discuss how citizens can become more actively involved in social and political processes during the summer. The protest will be at the turbo roundabout, at Fruskogorska and Bulevar cara Lazara; stands will be set up around 14:30 and the main program starts at 17:30. 021 notes that this will be the first larger protest in Novi Sad this year after the large November 1, 2025 gathering marking the first anniversary of the railway-station tragedy, in which 16 people died.
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021 reports that the Planning Commission session that was to consider the plan along Bulevar despota Stefana has been moved from June 18 to June 30 at 09:00 because of a large number of objections. According to the outlet, several thousand objections were filed, while the project envisions housing and business buildings, including P+8 and P+14 heights, a 150 million euro investment, and more than 7,500 future residents.
021
Coverage: Novi Sad / City services, Transport, Urbanism, Environment, Civic initiatives
Planning Commission session delayed over Novi Sad na vodi: many objections arrived
(Odložena sednica Komisije za planove zbog "Novog Sada na vodi": Stigao veliki broj primedbi)
021 reports that the Planning Commission session was supposed to take place on Thursday, June 18, but because of the large number of objections it was moved to Tuesday, June 30, at 09:00; the venue remains the Blue Hall of the Novi Sad Assembly. Five urban-planning decisions are due to be discussed, with the most visible item being the draft general-regulation plan for the citywide center and sports-recreation content along Bulevar despota Stefana. On the western side, where Mornarica now stands, family housing and business buildings of P+8 and P+14 are planned; on the former Neimar factory site, apartments, business premises, and public areas are planned. According to 021, the investment is worth 150 million euros, planners expect more than 7,500 residents, and several thousand objections were submitted for the Bulevar despota Stefana plan.
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Belgrade's city pools opened on June 17, including the outdoor pools at SRC 25. maj - Milan Gale Muskatirovic. The 25. maj schedule is 10:00-19:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 on weekends; an adult day ticket costs 750 dinars, a ticket for children aged four to 10 costs 350 dinars, and free entry for Belgrade residents with the city pool card applies from 12:00 until closing.
N1
Outdoor pools at 25. maj have opened, while the complex renovation is still not finished
(Otvoreni bazeni na „25. maju“ počeli sa radom, dok rekonstrukcija kompleksa i dalje nije gotova)
N1 reports that Belgrade city pools opened at 10:00 on June 17, including the outdoor pools at SRC 25. maj - Milan Gale Muskatirovic. For 25. maj, the listed hours are 10:00-19:00 on weekdays and from 09:00 on weekends; an adult day ticket costs 750 dinars, a ticket for children aged four to 10 costs 350 dinars, two loungers and an umbrella cost 1,000 dinars, and an umbrella alone costs 500 dinars. With the city pool card for Belgrade residents, free entry applies from 12:00 until closing, while morning visits require a paid ticket. N1 notes that the complex renovation began in late 2024, the original late-2025 deadline was missed, a sign showed a new date of April 26, 2026, and that date also passed; users of the outdoor pool enter through a separate entrance.
Read sourceBeoinfo / City of Belgrade
Coverage: Belgrade / City services, Urbanism, Environment, Schools and health, Civic initiatives
25. maj - Milan Gale Muskatirovic pools reopen to visitors from today
(Базени „25. мај – Милан Гале Мушкатировић” од данас поново отворени за посетиоце)
Beoinfo published the official June 17 notice on reopening the 25. maj - Milan Gale Muskatirovic pools. According to the city Information Secretariat, extensive work was carried out on the filtration and water-treatment systems at both outdoor pools: four new filters were installed at the Olympic pool, five higher-capacity filters at the recreational pool, along with new automatic washing and system-control equipment. Investment secretary Luka Petrovic said most of the work was done on technical systems that ensure water quality and safety, while the sports hall, administrative section, and new spa center are to be gradually put into use after handover.
Read sourceBelgrade's construction-land directorate has launched a procurement for dismantling, transporting, and reinstalling the pedestrian overpass from Ada Ciganlija at Autokomanda. The 41.2-meter structure is meant to connect public-transport stops at Autokomanda with the Beograd Jug station.
N1
Ada Ciganlija overpass moves to Autokomanda: it will connect transit stops and the station
(Pasarela sa Ade Ciganlije seli se na Autokomandu – povezivaće stajališta gradskog prevoza i stanicu)
N1 reports that Belgrade's Directorate for Construction Land and Development has issued a public procurement for dismantling, transporting, reinstalling, and preparing full technical documentation for the pedestrian overpass now above Savska magistrala near Ada Ciganlija. The estimated value is 54.17 million dinars; the 41.2-meter structure is planned above the entry and exit ramps in the Autokomanda interchange zone. The new location should connect pedestrian routes between Autokomanda public-transport stops and the Beograd Jug station, while the tender conditions require use of the existing structure, retaining a four-meter width, and keeping the lowest point at least five meters above the roadway.
Read sourceBVK warned that because of Elektrodistribucija Srbije works and power interruptions at water-system facilities, residents on upper floors in Novi Beograd, Zemun, and Surcin may experience lower water pressure on June 17 from 08:30 to 22:00. The city service center number 11011 is listed for information.
BVK
Coverage: Belgrade / Utilities, City services
Elektrodistribucija works in Novi Beograd, Zemun, and Surcin municipalities
(Радови Електродистрибуције у општинама Нови Београд, Земун и Сурчин)
BVK says that because of Elektrodistribucija Srbije works and interruptions in electricity supply to several Belgrade water-system facilities in the municipalities of Novi Beograd, Zemun, and Surcin, consumers on upper floors may experience reduced water pressure on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 08:30 to 22:00. The notice says residents can contact the city service center at 11011 for additional information.
Read sourceContext
Long-running stories with updates
Stories
Serbia and EU accession
This story tracks Serbia's EU talks, rule-of-law requirements, judicial reforms, media issues, and foreign-policy conditions. In June 2026, the key current episode concerns amendments to five judicial laws, Venice Commission opinions, and expectations around opening Cluster 3.
- Serbia has not opened new EU accession negotiation chapters since December 2021.
- In January 2026, parliament adopted amendments to five judicial laws on MP Ugljesa Mrdic's proposal, drawing criticism from parts of the professional community and the EU over prosecutorial autonomy and judicial independence.
- On April 24, the Venice Commission published an urgent opinion identifying shortcomings and seven key recommendations for removing them.
- On May 18, the Justice Ministry sent improved working drafts of the amendments to parliament for transmission to Venice Commission rapporteurs.
- On June 12, Ana Brnabic said the Venice Commission had given a positive opinion, that the package would go to parliament next week, and that the government expects Cluster 3 to open soon.
- The follow-up opinion published on June 16 clarified the status: seven of nine recommendations were implemented, but the return of two of 11 organized-crime prosecutors and the autonomy of the cybercrime unit remain unresolved.
- On June 17, Serbia's parliament opened an extraordinary session with amendments to five judicial laws on the agenda, moving the Venice Commission recommendations dispute from expert review into parliamentary procedure.
- On the evening of June 17, N1 and Danas reported that the High Prosecutorial Council scheduled a June 18 extraordinary session with temporary assignment of public prosecutors to TOK among the proposed agenda items; this addresses one unresolved Venice Commission remark.
- On June 18, VST decided to assign Irena Bjelos, Aleksandar Barac, and Boris Majlat to TOK for three years; Bjelos and Barac return from June 19, while Danas separately carried the Judicial Authority Union's criticism that temporary assignment of prosecutors as a mechanism is not in line with European standards.
- On June 21, SSP, SRCE, PSG, and Solidarnost told EU institutions that, according to them, the Venice Commission and parliament received different texts of the judicial-law amendments; the Justice Ministry denies this and says the parliamentary version differs only because it is in Serbian.
Timeline
How the story developed
Serbia last opened new EU negotiation chapters in December 2021; that fact again became part of the dispute around Cluster 3.
Parliament adopted amendments to five judicial laws on MP Ugljesa Mrdic's proposal; professional groups and the EU later criticized them as a risk to prosecutorial autonomy and judicial independence.
The Venice Commission published an urgent opinion on the January amendments and issued seven key recommendations to address the shortcomings.
The Justice Ministry sent improved working drafts of the judicial-law amendments to parliament for transmission to Venice Commission rapporteurs.
Ana Brnabic said the Venice Commission gave a positive opinion on the package, that the amendments would go to parliament next week, and that she expects Cluster 3 to open soon.
The Venice Commission published its follow-up opinion: Serbia implemented seven of nine recommendations, but two key areas - the return of two organized-crime prosecutors and autonomy for the cybercrime unit - are not fully implemented.
Parliament put amendments to five judicial laws on an extraordinary session agenda, including laws on public prosecution, judges, the High Prosecutorial Council, court and prosecutor territories, and bodies for fighting high-tech crime.
VST decided to assign Irena Bjelos, Aleksandar Barac, and Boris Majlat to TOK for three years; the decision for Bjelos and Barac passed with nine votes in favor and one abstention, while Majlat's passed with eight in favor, one against, and one abstention.
Platforma za evropsku Srbiju informed EU institutions of allegedly different judicial-law texts for the Venice Commission and parliament; the Justice Ministry rejected the claims of differences.