The German Journalists' Association calls for a response from the EU regarding the persecution of journalists in Serbia.

The President of the Journalists' Association of Serbia, Mika Bojster, described the MFRR report as a "catastrophic finding" for media freedom in Serbia.

"It is unacceptable that serious negotiations are taking place at the EU level regarding Serbia's accession to the European Union, while at the same time, journalists are being persecuted," he stated.

The report is the result of an international observation mission that visited Belgrade in March of this year.

One of the largest journalist associations in Europe reminded that, according to the report, the number of violations of media freedom increased during the year to 209 cases, affecting 359 media workers and media companies.

In at least 38 cases, attacks on journalists were carried out by police officers. In addition to physical attacks, media workers have also been targeted by so-called SLAPP lawsuits, which aim to silence the media by overwhelming them with a barrage of legal challenges," emphasized the organization, which has 38,000 members.

As an urgent measure to improve the situation, the Journalists' Association of Serbia supports the recommendation of the MFRR and the European Federation of Journalists that EU financial support should be conditioned on measurable improvements in media freedom in Serbia.