OSCE Media Freedom Representative and OSCE Head of Mission to Serbia welcome adoption of Serbian Media Strategy

VIENNA / BELGRADE, 31 January 2020 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, Andrea Orizio, welcomed yesterday’s adoption of the new Strategy for the Development of the Public Information System in Serbia.

“Such a strategy is of critical importance to the Serbian media landscape,” Désir said. “My Office and the OSCE Mission to Serbia have, over the last couple of years, provided substantial assistance in order to ensure a climate that is conducive to media freedom in the country. I am pleased to see this has been fruitful.”

Orizio added: “The adoption of the Media Strategy, thanks to the joint commitment and inclusive effort of all stakeholders – the Serbian Government, professional associations, civil society organizations – is a major step towards a healthier media environment rooted in media freedom, ethics, professionalism and literacy.”

The strategy deals with, among other things, the independence and financial sustainability of public service media, the safety of journalists, the organizational and financial independence of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), the right of free access to information, and media pluralism, including national minority languages. It also includes the issue of state ownership in the Politika AD media company as well as in the Tanjug news agency.

The full implementation of this document will be crucial for its success and sustainability, they said, adding that the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and the OSCE Mission to Serbia stand ready to further support the media reform process.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.