Giaufret: Serbia must enhance media standards, journalists need to feel safe

First and foremost, journalists need to feel safe while carrying out their work, Giaufret told reporters in Belgrade on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists.

Giaufret said Serbia needs to fully implement media sector reforms that it initiated exactly a year ago with changes to media laws, as well as to ensure transparent co-financing of media outlets and increased transparency in media ownership. He noted that budgets for media co-financing have been significantly reduced this year.

The ambassador added that the EU has allocated 1.5 million euros to support the implementation of Serbia’s Media Strategy, and that he expects it to be fully implemented.

He highlighted that the European Commission’s annual report for Serbia pointed out ongoing challenges regarding journalist safety in Serbia, stressing the need for improvements in this area.

We call on government officials to refrain from verbal attacks on journalists and to ensure that any threats or violence against them are addressed, investigated, and prosecuted, said Giaufret.

He referenced several unresolved journalist murder cases, including those of Slavko Curuvija, Radislava “Dada” Vujasinovic, and Milan Pantic, which he said were examples of the impunity surrounding crimes against journalists.

Giaufret warned that there is a concerning trend of SLAPP suits, adding that the European Commission is closely monitoring legal proceedings against journalists in Serbia.