Coalition for Media Freedom: Serbia is not ready for the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA)

According to announcements from the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, the ministry plans to soon begin work on amendments to the Law on Public Information and Media and the Law on Electronic Media, which should relate to alignment with the EMFA. The Coalition members' stance is that this initiative is premature, considering that this work is still in its infancy in the EU, that there are numerous uncertainties regarding the application of the EMFA that need to be resolved at the EU level, and that Serbia has not yet fulfilled even the basic preconditions for the substantive implementation of European standards in the area of media freedom protection.

The EMFA represents a fundamental shift in strengthening and protecting that freedom. However, this strengthening requires functional and institutional capacities for its application.

The key media laws in Serbia are already partially aligned with the EMFA. However, although there is formal compliance with European standards in certain segments, a crucial problem is their inconsistent and selective application in practice. This particularly relates to the protection of journalistic sources, the independence of public media services, transparency of ownership, and the functioning of regulatory bodies. Without the real application of existing norms, further amendments to the legislation in Serbia cannot lead to substantive progress.

Media freedoms in Serbia are at a concerning level, marked by continuous political pressure and campaigns targeting journalists, non-transparent media financing, and a weak institutional response to regulatory violations.

The key prerequisites for the implementation of the EMFA in Serbia are not new amendments to the law, but rather ensuring the independence of media regulation, consistent protection of journalists and their sources, as well as a substantive restraint of the state from political and economic influence on the media.

Analyses also indicate the need for a broader, intersectoral approach, considering that certain provisions of the EMFA exceed the framework of media legislation and require amendments in other areas, including regulating state advertising, communications oversight, and competition protection.

The conclusion of both analyses is that without clear political will, institutional independence, and full application of existing laws, the process of alignment with the EMFA remains formal and without a real impact on the improvement of media freedoms in Serbia.

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Alignment with EMFA - Serbia

Implementation of EMFA through Amendments to the Law

The Coalition for Media Freedom includes the Media Association, the Online Media Association (AOM), the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Business Association of Local and Independent Media "Local Press", the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, and the Branch Union of Culture, Arts, and Media "Independence".