Serbia: Media freedom mission to probe longstanding challenges and advocate for reform
On 26-27 March 2026, partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and of the Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists will conduct a mission to Serbia.
20 March 2026
Against the backdrop of ongoing challenges to media pluralism and increasing attacks and pressure on independent journalists – particularly in the wake of nationwide protests following the Novi Sad tragedy on 1 November 2024 – as highlighted by the recently launched 2025 Europe Press Freedom report of the CoE Platform partners, and the 2025 MFRR Monitoring Report, the mission will assess the current media freedom and safety of journalists’ situation in the country. The visit follows-up on a solidarity mission of media freedom groups in April 2025 to discuss possible measures to improve the safety of journalists. The delegation aims to meet with journalists, public officials, as well as representatives of civil society, international organisations, and foreign representations in Belgrade.
Key topics on the agenda include violence against journalists during protests, SLAPPs, impunity for the killing of journalists, media capture, the independence of the media regulator and public service media, investigations into spyware cases, and digital threats against journalists.
The partners will share their initial findings at a press conference on 27 March 2026 at 14:00, at the memorial of murdered journalist Slavko Ćuruvija (Svetogorska 35, Belgrade).
The delegation will include representatives from the following organisations: ARTICLE 19 Europe, Association of European Journalists (AEJ), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), European Broadcasting Union, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Index on Censorship, International Press Institute (IPI), Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Media contacts:
Katia Mierzejewska, katia.mierzejewska@article19.org
Srbija: Misija za slobodu medija ispituje dugogodišnje izazove i zagovara reforme
U periodu od 26. do 27. marta 2026. godine, partnerske organizacije Mehanizma za brzi odgovor u oblasti slobode medija (Media Freedom Rapid Response) i Platforme Saveta Evrope za bezbednost novinara sprovešće zagovaračku misiju u Srbiji.
U kontekstu dugotrajnih izazova za medijski pluralizam i rastućih napada i pritisaka na nezavisne novinare, posebno nakon masovnih protesta širom zemlje koji su usledili posle tragedije u Novom Sadu 1. novembra 2024. godine, misija će proceniti trenutno stanje slobode medija u zemlji.
Delegacija će se nadovezati na nalaze prethodne misije solidarnosti organizacija za slobodu medija iz aprila 2025, kao i nedavno objavljenog izveštaja „Europe Press Freedom 2025“ partnerskih organizacija Platforme Saveta Evrope, kako bi se razgovaralo o mogućim merama za unapređenje bezbednosti novinara.
Tokom posete, delegacija će se sastati sa novinarima, predstavnicima javnih institucija i Vlade, kao i predstavnicima civilnog društva i međunarodnih organizacija.
Ključne teme na agendi uključuju nasilje nad novinarima tokom protesta, SLAPP tužbe, nekažnjivost za ubistva novinara, zarobljavanje medija, nezavisnost medijskog regulatora i javnih servisa, istrage u slučajevima špijunskog softvera, kao i digitalne pretnje novinarima.
Nakon dvodnevne misije, partneri će predstaviti početne nalaze na konferenciji za medije u Beogradu, održanoj na mestu gde je ubijen i gde se nalazi spomen-obeležje ubijenom novinaru Slavku Ćuruviji, 27. marta 2026. godine u 14:00, Svetogorska 35.
Delegaciju će činiti predstavnici i predstavnice sledećih organizacija: Article 19, Evropski centar za štampu i slobodu medija – European Center for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), Evropska federacija novinara – European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Reporteri bez graninca – Reporters Without Borders (RWB-RSF), Medjunarodni pres institut – International Press Institute (IPI), Komitet za zaštitu novinara – Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Opservatorija za Balkan Kavkaz Transevropa – Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), Asocijacija evropskih novinara – Association of European Journalists (AEJ), Indeks cenzure – Index on Censorship, Evropska radiodifuzna unija – European Broadcasting Union
Media contacts:
Katia Mierzejewska, katia.mierzejewska@article19.org
