Report from the EC: Concern for the Safety of Journalists in Serbia

It is added that journalists have been subjected to increasing pressures and attacks in the context of student and civic protests that occurred following the tragic incident in Novi Sad.

The European Commission's report also mentions that a number of foreign journalists, including those from EU member states, were denied entry into Serbia ahead of the protests held on March 15, 2025.

"Since July 2024, the Council of Europe’s platform for the promotion of the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists has recorded 20 alerts. The Media Freedom Rapid Response project has documented 113 alerts since July 2024, including 23 physical attacks, 25 attacks on property, 73 verbal attacks, eight legal incidents, and 23 cases of interference with the work of journalists," the report highlights.

It is also noted that several media associations have suspended their membership in the Permanent Working Group on the Safety of Journalists, allegedly due to the inefficiency of the relevant authorities in prosecuting attacks on journalists or due to general criticism of the government’s failure to meet basic democratic standards and principles of the rule of law.

It is added that no progress has been made in prosecuting the three murders of journalists from 1994, 1999, and 2001, one of which has since expired due to the statute of limitations.

"Cases of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) increasingly hinder the work of investigative media and civil society organizations. Serbia still needs to align its legislation with the EU acquis, including mechanisms for the early dismissal of clearly unfounded lawsuits and legal remedies against the abuse of judicial proceedings," it is assessed.