photo: Dejan Krsmanovic / Flickr/Protest on the bridges in Cacak, Serbia
What happens when politics and business collide? The SEE Mobility 2025 fair in Belgrade has been cancelled after European companies withdrew, citing security risks, deportations, and rising political tensions in Serbia.
The event, which was scheduled to take place on April 24-25 in Belgrade, was called off following the withdrawal of exhibitors, visitors, and speakers from five EU countries. According to the press release from SEE Mobility, the organizers, the Railway Cluster for Southeast Europe, stated that fears over the safety of business representatives played a decisive role in the cancellation.
This decision comes amid escalating political tensions in Serbia, where the government has been accused of targeting foreign business representatives and publicly portraying European countries as instigators of a "color revolution" within the country. As Beta Briefing reports, warnings from various EU foreign ministries and embassies about potential risks for their citizens traveling to Serbia also contributed to the withdrawal of key participants.
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The Role of Political Unrest in the Cancellation
The cancellation of SEE Mobility 2025 is directly linked to Serbia’s current political instability. Over recent months, the Serbian government has accused Western nations of interfering in domestic affairs. This has led to diplomatic tensions, reports of deportations of EU citizens attending international conferences, and the public targeting of European business executives operating in Serbia, according to SEE Mobility press release.
Simultaneously, The Guardian reports that mass protests have erupted in Belgrade against the government of President Aleksandar Vučić. On March 15, 2025, a massive demonstration against corruption saw an estimated 275,000 to 325,000 protesters marching through the capital. Authorities responded by shutting down public transport, a move widely seen as an effort to suppress turnout at the anti-government rally.
As a result, these ongoing political and social tensions have heightened concerns about the safety of foreign businesspeople visiting Serbia, further discouraging participation in events like SEE Mobility. The international railway industry’s reluctance to send representatives under such circumstances significantly influenced the fair’s eventual cancellation.
Industry Leaders Pull Out, Raising Security Concerns
According to Beta Briefing, the International Union of Railways, the European Rail Supply Industry Association, and the European Railway Clusters Initiative—three of the largest organizations in the European rail sector—had all planned to participate in SEE Mobility 2025 for the first time as a joint delegation. However, due to security concerns and diplomatic warnings, they decided to pull out.
The reasons for this withdrawal include:
- Reports of EU citizens being deported from Serbia while attending international conferences.
- Public accusations against directors of European railway firms, labeling them as part of alleged Western interference in Serbian affairs.
- Government rhetoric framing the EU as an adversary, leading to safety concerns for visiting businesspeople.
This hostile environment for foreign investors has led to fears that representatives of European companies could face harassment, public scrutiny, or even legal repercussions while attending events in Serbia, as noted in the SEE Mobility press release.
Impact on Serbia’s Economic and Business Environment
SEE Mobility is the most significant biennial railway industry event in Southeast Europe, attracting companies from 11 countries and serving as a key platform for business networking and industry cooperation. The cancellation of the 2025 fair is a serious blow to Serbia’s reputation as a stable destination for international business.
Organizers have admitted that the cancellation will have financial and reputational consequences, but have pointed out that holding the event under current conditions would not be possible. "Under the given circumstances, we believe that it is necessary to hold the fair in a normal atmosphere," the Railway Cluster for Southeast Europe stated.
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The Serbian government’s strained relationship with the EU is another factor that could impact future business opportunities. Serbia has been an EU candidate country since 2012, but its pro-Russian stance and deteriorating democratic institutions have stalled negotiations. Recent protests, the government's hostile rhetoric toward the West, and now the SEE Mobility cancellation further weaken Serbia’s image as a reliable partner for European industries, The Guardian notes.
Future of SEE Mobility: Postponement and Uncertainty
While the 2025 edition of SEE Mobility has been officially cancelled, BSN Mobilitéit reports that the organizers have suggested that the fair could be rescheduled for late 2025 or early 2026, provided that political conditions stabilize. Possible alternative dates include November 2025 or March/April 2026. However, if the country continues to experience political turmoil, strained EU relations, and safety concerns for foreign business representatives, it is unlikely that European companies will feel confident returning in the near future.
Source: The Guardian; SEE Mobility; BSN Mobilitéit; Beta Briefing