Serbia: Ten organizations are calling on the ministers for European affairs to withdraw the red line regarding media freedom.

Organizations point to a shocking number of physical, legal, and online attacks on journalists, recorded on international monitoring platforms since November 2024 — a level of ongoing violence against the media that is rare in any EU member state or candidate country. Since the outbreak of mass protests across the country in November 2024 and the government's harsh response, our organizations have visited Belgrade multiple times and concluded that the situation is rapidly deteriorating.

Organizations further warn that the Government of Serbia and high political officials have been and remain key drivers of this significant increase in attacks, as well as the broader erosion of media freedoms. They highlight the atmosphere fostered by public disqualifications of journalists by high-ranking officials of the ruling party and President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, police violence against journalists, and the almost complete absence of response and prosecution during and after attacks on journalists. Although authorities confirm that physical attacks on journalists have increased by 367% during 2025, only three convictions were issued during that period.

The labeling of journalists with dehumanizing and incendiary terms such as “insects,” “subhumans,” “terrorists,” and “traitors” by political actors has led to the incitement of hatred against certain journalists in society. A smear campaign in March 2026, broadcast on national television, identified more than 45 journalists as “enemies of the state,” accusing them of treason without any evidence and explicitly referencing previous murders of journalists in Serbia. Combined with rising physical attacks, a lack of protection, and the state's unwillingness to hold perpetrators accountable, organizations warn that all elements are present for further incitement of violence against the media and that, unless concrete measures are urgently taken, serious or even deadly attacks on media members may soon occur.

In a letter, the ministers for European affairs, who gathered this weekend for an informal meeting in Brussels, are urged to support the call for the suspension of European funds to Serbia, as proposed by European Commissioner Kos, who advocates for withholding EU funds in response to ongoing democratic backsliding and close ties of the authorities with Russia. The ministers are called upon to urgently and publicly demand that Serbian authorities take measures against the dangerous climate of violence and repression against journalists.

The letters also urge EU member states to demand that Serbian authorities take concrete steps against the dangerous climate of violence and repression towards journalists. This includes: an immediate halt to open attacks on journalists and smear campaigns; effectively combating impunity for all crimes against journalists; reforming law enforcement agencies, including better protection for journalists during protests and ending arbitrary surveillance; as well as establishing meaningful and effective institutional and legal measures to guarantee better protection for journalists, including addressing issues of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP lawsuits).

Signatories:

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

ARTICLE 19

European Association of Journalists (AEJ)

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Index on Censorship

International Press Institute (IPI)

Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)