The Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI) expressed profound concern over 2 media laws drawn up by the Serbian government, warning that they could limit media independence and allow the state to expand its ownership in media outlets.

A statement said that draft laws on Public Information and the Media and on Electronic Media are critical for the national media environment could “further curtail media independence and pluralism in the country by allowing state-owned entities such as Telekom Serbia to further expand into media ownership, distort competition and harm the few remaining independent media in the country”. “The draft laws represent a step back in media reform and showcase President Vucic’s disregard for EU values,” it said and called the European Parliament and European Commission to urge Serbia to align with EU media freedom standards, as part of the accession negotiations.

BFMI warned that the draft laws contradict the “Strategy for Development of the Public Information System in the Republic of Serbia” which was agreed by the government and representatives of media organizations and civil society, and endorsed by the EU in 2020.

“Alarmingly, the new drafts also conflict with the recently approved European Media Freedom Act (MFA) in areas relating to media pluralism and regulatory independence,” it added.

“BFMI is particularly concerned about three primary aspects of the draft laws, which seem to strengthen existing structural challenges that stifle media freedom in Serbia: State ownership of media: independence of the media regulator and ethical standards for outlets receiving state funding.

BFMI recalled that “Serbian media under state influence regularly promote pro-government propaganda, amplify pro-Kremlin disinformation and fuel ethnic tension, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo”.

BFMI joins other free media organizations in urging the Serbian government to reconsider the controversial changes in these draft laws and resume dialogue with organizations committed to refining Serbia’s media environment consistent with European principles, the statement said.