In its latest progress report on Serbia, the European Commission (EC) expresses concern regarding political and economic influence over the media, including a leaked recording of a conversation between United Group CEO Stan Miller, and CEO of the state-owned Telekom Srbija Vladimir Lucic, on weakening media outlets operating under United Media, which includes N1.
The EC report says that political and economic influence on the media, including on editorial policy, is a source of serious concern.
It recalls that, in August 2025, a leaked phone conversation between the CEOs of a private media group [United Group] and of majority state-owned Telekom Srbija regarding personnel changes in the former raised concerns about political pressure on media outlets perceived as critical towards the authorities.
“A high number of registered media outlets combined with a limited advertising market produce economic uncertainty, especially at local level. This means that media often strongly depend on public co-funding,” the report notes.
It adds that, in January 2025, Serbia established a Unified Information System on public co-funding of media. The Ministry of Information and Telecommunication increased the 2025 budget for public co-funding at national level.
“However, new calls published in 2024 significantly reduced public funding in several municipalities, and the remaining public funding was awarded through less transparent processes, such as the procurement of information services and advertising. Some media outlets that violated the Code of Ethics continued to receive public cofinancing, although the Law on Public Information and Media prescribes the extent to which the media outlets meet ethical standards as one of the criteria for receiving co-funding,” the European Commission said.
It also noted that media associations reported irregularities and lack of transparency.
“Information on other sources of public funding, including advertising, have yet to be made more transparent and comprehensive in the media register. The register does not reveal beneficial ownership for each media, since many owners are listed as subsidiary companies. Supervisory inspections of the register have yet to start,” the EC said.
The European Commission on Tuesday released its harshest report to date on Serbia’s progress in the European integration process. More details are available in a separate news item, and the full report can be downloaded here.
Source: N1
