The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in addressing the Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, regarding the unlawful political pressure being exerted on the weekly Novosti, the only print media outlet for the Serb minority in Croatia. Recent alarming developments include a statement by MP Mlinarić from the ruling Homeland Movement coalition expressing the intention to abolish all budgetary funding for Novosti starting in 2026. This statement followed reports by Novi List that the president of the Homeland Movement, Ivan Penava, had allegedly pressured minority members of the Council for National Minorities not to ‘protect the interests of Novosti’. The MFRR consortium urges the Croatian authorities to ensure the independence of the Council for National Minorities in line with the Constitutional Act on the Rights of National Minorities and EMFA standards, guarantee the protection of minority media outlets and cease any form of political pressure on journalists and media outlets.
The full letter here.
Source: EFJ
