On 3 June 2025, the EFJ General Assembly adopted a resolution expressing deep concern over the increasing number of attacks, threats, and pressure on journalists in Serbia. The resolution was proposed by the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Trade Union of Culture, Arts, and Media “Nezavisnost.”
The document highlights that 166 cases of attacks and pressure on journalists were recorded in 2024, with an additional 128 registered in the first five months of 2025. It especially underscores the numerous physical assaults, instances of digital surveillance, and police inaction—where journalists are often removed from the scene instead of their attackers.
The EFJ pointed to chronic impunity: out of 62 cases from 2024, only one had resulted in a conviction by March 2025, and another was resolved through deferred prosecution. Of the total 598 recorded cases of attacks and threats since 2016, only 16% led to a conviction, while in 19% of cases the perpetrator was never identified.
The resolution also warns of increasing political pressure on media outlets that are in some form financially dependent on public funds, including censorship, editorial interference, and the dismissal of journalists. It notes a continued decline in Serbia’s ranking on international media freedom indexes—RSF ranked Serbia 96th, Freedom House classifies it as “partly free” with a score of 56/100, and the SafeJournalists Index gives Serbia a score of 2.83/7, with “actual safety” being the lowest-rated category.
Accordingly, the EFJ General Assembly:
- Strongly condemns ongoing attacks and the prevailing impunity;
- Calls on Serbian institutions to respond urgently and report publicly on cases;
- Urges international organizations to increase pressure on Serbia;
- Expresses solidarity with independent journalists and media outlets;
- Demands that these issues remain on the agenda of European institutions;
- Calls on Serbian media, especially public broadcasters, to uphold editorial independence and protect journalists.
NUNS, in cooperation with domestic and international partners, will continue to advocate for institutional accountability and journalist protection as a prerequisite for preserving media freedom and democratic values in Serbia.
You can read the full text of the resolution below.
SERBIA
On Escalating Threats and Persistent Impunity for Attacks on Journalists in Serbia
Tabled by the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) and Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media ‘Nezavisnost’
The General Meeting of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), meeting in Budapest on 2–3 June 2025,
Expressing grave concern over the continuing increase of the attacks, threats, and pressures on journalists in Serbia, with 166 cases recorded in 2024 and 128 more in the first five months of the 2025;
Underlining 18 physical assaults and dozens of verbal threats and acts of violent intimidation, ilegal digital surveillance of journalists while the police being passive observers or removing and arresting reporters from the scene instead of the attackers;
Noting with alarm that since 2016, Serbia’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has recorded 598 cases involving threats or attacks on journalists. In 60% of these, there was reasonable suspicion that a criminal offense had occurred. However, only 97 cases (16% ) have resulted in convictions. In 19% of cases the perpetrator was never identified;
Adding that in 2024 alone, 62 new cases were opened, yet by the end of March 2025, only one conviction had been issued and one case resolved through deferred prosecution;
Alarming by the increasing institutional pressures and editorial interference in media outlets that are financially dependent on public funds or closely aligned with the ruling authorities, where newsroom independence is systematically undermined through management intimidation, censorship, and politically motivated dismissals—creating a hostile atmosphere of fear, self-censorship, and retaliation against journalists perceived as professional;
Further noting Serbia’s continuing decline in media freedom indicators: ranked 96th by RSF in 2025, downgraded to “partly free” by Freedom House with a score of 56 about of 100, and receiving a press safety index of 2.83/7 by the SafeJournalists Network, with “actual safety conditions”rated as the weakest aspect;
Recalling the European Commission’s 2024 report highlighting a lack of progress in media freedom, legal implementation, and journalist safety;
The EFJ General Meeting therefore:
- Strongly condemns the ongoing attacks on journalists and the impunity that follows;
- Calls on Serbian authorities, especially the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Ministry of the Interior, to treat crimes against journalists with urgency and to publish detailed, regular updates on the case processing;
- Urges the European Union, Council of Europe, the OSCE, and other international partners to step up pressures on Serbia to meet its obligations under international press freedom standards;
- Expresses full solidarity with professional and independent journalists and organizations in Serbia and supports the EFJ affiliates in efforts to monitor, report, and seek justice in all cases of the journalists’ rights violations;
- Requests the EFJ Steering Committee to ensure that these issues remain on the European agenda and are raised consistently in dialogue with the EU institutions and other stakeholders.
- Calls on Serbian media outlets including public service media, particularly those receiving public funding or operating under foreign licensing agreements, to uphold editorial independence, protect journalists from political interference, and ensure that employment decisions are not used as tools of retaliation or suppression of press freedom.
