Written question – Threat to independent journalism in Serbia – E-004101/2025

Question for written answer  E-004101/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle (Renew)

According to recent reports, press freedom in Serbia is increasingly under severe pressure. While most media outlets are following President Aleksandar Vučić’s direction, United Media remains independent and critical with its TV channel N1. However, this independence now seems to be in jeopardy: Stan Miller, CEO of the Dutch United Group conglomerate, spoke with state-owned Telekom Srbija and promised to dismiss the CEO of United Media Aleksandra Subotić.[1] The situation raises questions about the protection of media freedom in Serbia and the role of the EU institutions in this regard.

• 1.Does the Commission agree that these recent developments put independent media and journalists in Serbia under increasing political pressure, and how does it assess the current state of media freedom in the country?
• 2.Does the Commission agree that safeguarding independent journalism is a key element of Serbia’s EU accession process and, if so, what action is it taking in this regard in the ongoing accession negotiations?

Submitted: 17.10.2025

• [1] https://www.occrp.org/en/scoop/telecom-chief-and-united-group-ceo-in-talks-to-weaken-serbias-last-independent-broadcaster.