06. 06. 2014

"CONDUCT OF SERBIAN GOVERNMENT SURPRIZING"

Belgrade, 06. 06. 2014 (Danas; B92) - The European Commission should systematically assess media freedom in Serbia and other candidate countries for EU accession, says Alexandra Stiglmayer.

"Free media are an essential element of a free, open, and democratic society. The European Commission should systematically assess media freedom in Serbia and other countries that are candidates for EU membership. Up until now it has not been done methodically," said Alexandra Stiglmayer, senior analyst of the European Stability Initiative.

She said this commenting on the statement made by Peter Stano, the spokesperson of the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Stefan Fule, that the EC will "pay very, very great attention to media freedom" in Serbia, and that OSCE will be one of the partners in this process.

Stiglmayer thinks that the Commission has to establish and publish "clear and transparent" criteria by which it will assess media freedom in its annual progress reports for states aspiring to EU membership.

"It is essential that the Commission establishes a legal and financial framework necessary to enable the media to operate freely. However, what is more important is that we need clear indicators that will measure not laws, but result. For example, how balanced are the public service broadcasters? Are guests of political programs selected in a balanced way? Can opposition representatives be freely heard in state-owned media, and, of course, in private media? Many of these things can be measured and compared. Due to problems regarding media freedom in many candidate countries from Serbia to Turkey, this must be done without delay. It is very important that after the establishment of these criteria they are published and that the reviews be transparent," warned Alexandra Stiglmayer.

Speaking about the exchange of messages between the OSCE and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić regarding media censorship, Stiglmayer notes that incidents during the flood were not the first time that internet sites on which journalists or individuals criticized the government were blocked.

"I am also very concerned about the pressure that critical journalists in Serbia are facing. Basically, I am surprised that the Serbian government is taking such measures. A Government with such a strong mandate can easily allow open discussion and debate. This would be in its interest and, of course, in the interests of the Serbian society. Free debate is the essence of a free society," concluded Alexandra Stiglmayer.