The European Commission expects the Serbian authorities to implement the national media strategy and create an environment which allows unobstructed freedom of expression, Commission spokeswoman Ana Pisonero told N1 on Wednesday.

“We expect the Serbian authorities to deliver on the implementation of the media strategy, against commitments that have been made at the highest level and to create an enabling environment in which freedom of expression and media freedom is exercised without hindrance.,” Pisonero said in a written reply to N1’s question about the draft media laws being debated by the Serbian parliament following heated debates in public.

She added that the Commission expects progress on the issue of the ownership of media by state-owned enterprises “in order to ensure fair competition and to protect the media pluralism”. “We are discussing with Serbia how it can deliver tangible results in priority areas, such as media freedom, which is one of our key concerns,” Pisonero said.

“In addition to finalising the drafting of the media laws in accordance with the media strategy, Serbia needs to take urgent action to counter anti-EU narratives and to counter foreign information manipulation and interference. And we expect that the media regulator REM starts fully delivering on its mandate,” the European Commission spokeswoman said.